WITH its plentiful rainfall and many fast flowing rivers, the Forest of Bowland could soon be powering the Ribble Valley.

Water mills historically used to grind corn and to supply power to the textile mills could now be used to generate renewable energy harnessing water power.

A new report commissioned by The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) looks to the future with plans to make the area a 'low carbon landscape' with water or hydro electric power.

The feasibility study has uncovered a number of historic mill sites in villages across the Ribble Valley, including Barrowford, Chipping, Calder Vale and Quernmore – where structures could be put back into use to supply local electricity demand.

The study has also found a number of potentially powerful reservoirs and weirs where larger amounts of power could be generated on the Lune, the Calder and the Wyre.

Cathy Hopley, project manager at Bowland AONB, said: “Hydro power is a natural resource and it makes sense to harness this power and to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels.

“And we hope that businesses, land owners and communities can work together and make some of these schemes a reality.”

The Inter Hydro Technology study was commissioned in 2010 by the AONB and it has been funded by Pendle Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and the local strategic partnerships of Lancaster and Ribble Valley.

In total 37 sites have been studied to assess their potential to generate power and to save carbon emissions.

Five of these sites, at Barrowford, Waddington, Clitheroe, Abbeystead and Skerton, have also undergone a more rigorous assessment of their potential to generate hydro electricity in a stage 2 study.

And now the owners will be encouraged to seek finance and permission in order to develop small scale generation.