A NEW project is being launched to utilise water power in south Shropshire.

A community group in Cleobury Country is seeking investors to help return the historic Tetstill Mill in Neen Sollars to the harnessing of power from the River Rea by producing green energy.

It is hoped that local people will invest £150,000 in order to make the project viable.

A £20,000 share will be purchased by Cleobury Country Ltd (CCL) following their successful bid for funding from Shropshire Council’s Market Towns Revitalisation Project. Its dividend will be utilised for sustainable projects within the local community.

When complete, this community- owned scheme will provide the equivalent of around 20 per cent of the domestic electricity use in the village.

The income will come from electricity sales and the feed-in tariff which will be based on the annual power generated and exported from the site.

This project follows the successful community share offer by Leominster Community Solar. It will be the first hydropower cooperative in the West Midlands. Both projects have been supported by Sharenergy, a Ludlowbased co-operative.

To encourage local interest and support, The Neen Sollars Community Hydropower Co-operative (NSCH Co-op) Ltd is holding a Share Offer launch event on Saturday, February 18 from 10am until 4pm at The Milson and Neen Sollars Victory Hall.

Here local people, community organisations and businesses will be able to see the plans for a hydroelectric scheme, how much they can invest (as little as £250 or up to £20,000 for a single share) and what they can expect as a return on their investment and in tax benefits.

There will also be members of the local community including NSCH Co-op representatives, the project team and the design consultants on hand to explain the project and answer any questions.

People unable to attend the event will be able to see details of the project and obtain the share offer application from the Co-op website at: sharenergy.coop/neensollars/