As reported earlier today on 24 Hour Museum, a historic hydroelectric plant in the Yorkshire Dales is to undergo a refurbishment that will see new turbines added to generate green power.
The scheduled monument, in Linton Falls, Grassington, dates back to 1909 and after renovation will generate about 510,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, saving around 216 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions compared with fossil fuel power generation.
Other regeneration projects to help reduce carbon emissions include a historic water mill at Gants Mill in Somerset, a grade II* listed mill which has been repaired and installed with a turbine to produce hydropower using the adjacent river. Up to eight homes can be powered by the technology.
However, lack of funding seems to be a problem, as noted by the Heritage Counts north west regional report. It notes that despite having more visitors to museums and heritage sites in the region, the sector is receiving less and less funding.
With over two million people visiting the north west’s heritage sites in 2007/08, an increase of 28% compared to the previous year, heritage tourism makes a significant contribution to the £11 billion generated by the north west's visitor economy.
But in 2007/08, the amount of funding given to the north west region decreased by 14% from 2001/02 to £2.8 million.
Henry Owen-John, current Chair of the North West Historic Environment Forum, said: “These hard facts and figures make a convincing economic case for investing in the historic environment. Heritage is more than just visits to museums and historic sites, it's about sustaining distinctive historic places where people want to live, work and play.”
The national report also revealed a strong increase in membership of historic environment organisations, which is currently close to four million. Since 2001/02 English Heritage membership rose by 49% and the National Trust by 25%.
English Heritage prepares the annual report on behalf of the Historic Environment Review Executive Committee and the Regional Historic Environment Forums.
To view the Heritage Counts 2008 report in full, and the regional subsidiaries visit the website www.english-heritage.org.uk/hc/
