A youth centre’s plan to build a wind turbine to help with its funding has been submitted to the council.
Senghenydd Youth Drop-in Centre (SYDIC) wants planning permission to build the renewable energy source on Senghenydd mountain, near Graig-yr-Hufen Farm.
It will use the money generated from the sale of electricity to fund its services, after it suffered a series of financial cuts.
Dave Brunton, SYDIC’s Project Manager, said: “Caerphilly County Borough Council should get back to us late August. This will indicate whether we’re able to continue with the construction or not.”
SYDIC, which was established in 1997, has asked permission to build a 77-metre high wind turbine and associated infrastructure. Proceeds from the sale of generated electricity could be as much as £50,000 a year, which will go directly into funding youth services at the centre.
The Aber Valley Community Turbine, as it is called, has been in development since 2010 and will also offset SYDIC’s own energy use.
SYDIC offers a ranges of projects and services aimed at young people, and will use the turbine to raise awareness of climate change.
Past youth projects by the centre have included producing an animation based on the 1913 Senghenydd mining disaster, providing qualifications for youngsters, and a World War One joint history programme with the National Museum of Wales.
The wind turbine scheme has won support from local politicians and last year was awarded £42,000 from the Welsh Government, which helped pay for the planning application.
Mr Brunton added: “We have no funding to build the wind turbine at the moment, and so if the time comes, we will have to take a loan from a bank.”
• SYDIC will be hosting a Summer Activities week from Monday, July 25 to Friday, July 29, following support from local residents, businesses, Aber Valley Community Council, GAVO and Caerphilly County Borough Council.
This will be the 16th consecutive year that SYDIC will have hosted activities for the young people in the area.
For more information visit www.sydic.org.uk or call 029 20 832 712.