Roman-style hot springs a realistic prospect - report (From The Northern Echo)

Roman-style hot springs a realistic prospect - report

9:07am Monday 7th August 2006

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TAKING a dip in a hot springs spa in the style of the Romans is a realistic prospect for visitors to a planned eco village, according to a study.

Reports on geothermal hot water supplies at the proposed Renewable Energy Village at Eastgate, County Durham, indicate they will be suitable for public bathing as well as heating homes and other buildings at the multi-million pound development.

This means Eastgate could challenge the city of Bath as a hot springs resort, with thousands of gallons of water pumped from deep underground every day.

Ongoing research by consultants PB Power and Newcastle University is backing findings from a 1,000-metre deep test drilling at Eastgate in December 2004.

It confirmed the existence of hot rocks, making Eastgate the only place in the in the UK to combine all five forms of land-based renewable energy - wind, solar, hydro, biomass and geothermal.

The latest study is one of a number of feasibility and environmental investigations being carried out before a planning application can be submitted, probably in May next year.

Supporters say the eco-village will attract visitors from all over the world, creating hundreds of jobs on the site where Lafarge Cement shut its plant in 2002, making 147 people redundant.

Daniel Dufton, of PB Power, said: "We are pleased this ongoing research backs up our earlier findings at Eastgate.

"Crucially, all the signs from the microbiological and chemical analysis are that the water is suitable for bathing and we expect further research to reinforce this finding.

"Pumping trials also reveal the water is present in sufficient volumes to provide a sustainable source of heat for the development."

John Hamilton, chairman of the Weardale Task Force, said: "Incorporating geothermal energy at Eastgate helps us achieve our concept of utilising the five renewable energy sources.

"This will make Eastgate unique in the country, and this ground-breaking approach to creating homes for local people and facilities for new businesses is only possible because of its location in Weardale."

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