Pendle Council's West Craven Committee has asked officers to look into the possibility of using the free-flowing becks and streams in the area to generate hydro-powered electricity in the future.

Coun. David Whipp came up with the idea at Tuesday's meeting following a recent visit he had made to Settle.

That town had been looking at the possibility of using an "Archimedes screw" to generate electricity from the River Ribble, but recently abandoned the idea.

But after looking at a display on the proposed scheme, Coun. Whipp felt this was something that could work in West Craven with its history of stream/steam powered industry.

The Archimedes screw is a historic machine that was once used to transfer water from low-lying streams and rivers into irrigation ditches.

This has now been adapted to meet with modern needs, the principal being used in reverse whereby the weight of water works its way down the length of the screw causing it to rotate and power a generator.

"It is not long ago that we had umpteen mills in West Craven that were powered by water and I think we should examine whether there is any potential to generate hydropower from the watercourses we have," Coun. Whipp suggested to colleagues.

"We already have an existing head of water next to 40 Steps in Barnoldswick that could possibly be used and in Earby it may be the problems we have with the becks could be harnessed to better use."
Members of the committee thought this suggestion was worthy of investigation and looked forward to finding out more.