AN EXPERT team, including a professional diver, was in Galashiels on Friday to assess the ability of the town’s historic mill lade system to generate hydro electricity.

The conditions inspection was part of a feasibility study being carried out by local marketing group Energise Galashiels and funded by a £24,000 grant from Scotland’s Local Energy Challenge Fund (LECF).

The team also included Euan Hogg and Stan Johnson of Caddonfoot-based Silver Hydro Ltd which is developing an innovative hydro generator capable of harnessing the potential of low-head water courses.

Literally doing the dirty work was diver and rope access technician Richy Reed of Aquastars Dive Centre in Eyemouth.

“It was not so much about diving as crawling because the water level of the lade was particularly low,” said project co-ordinator and local architect Ranald Boydell.

“We were concentrating on the area around the Galabank Business Park at Wilderhaugh where sections of the lade, apart from being overgrown and full of debris, have been covered over or culverted since the last major inspection took place over two decades ago.

“Richy’s job was to delve into the most inaccessible places and check the structural condition of the lade walls, culverts and bed, taking photographs as he went.”

Under the terms of the LECF grant, the feasibility study must be completed by February next year.

“We will then have a better idea of our next move,” said Mr Boydell.

“If the study is positive, we hope to apply for phase two funding from the LECF to help develop the generating systems required to supply enough electricity for 1,000 local households and businesses.”

The project, which has the support of the volunteer Gala Waterways Group, was first mooted in March when Energise Galashiels called a meeting of parties interested in developing a low carbon economy for the town, thus enhancing the anticipated reduction in road transport-related emissions with the re-opening of the railway.