A COMMUNITY-OWNED hydroelectric scheme in Oxford has been hit with more delays.

The Osney Lock Hydro project team had previously said it would go live in February after it was successfully commissioned at the end of January.

Since its commissioning, the Environment Agency has been reviewing how to operate its weir gates to improve the flow of water for both the new scheme and an existing hydro located nearby.

The £650,000 turbine – paid for by local investment – at Osney Lock will provide enough energy to power 50 homes.

The Environment Agency also said a fish pass needed to be completed before the scheme can go live.

Director Barbara Hammond said: “It is just final bits and pieces.

“The installation is technically commissioned as of January 30 and we are just now waiting for the EA to agree what our testing and trialling period is going to be to make sure the lock keepers are trained and comfortable before we are fully operational.”

Environment Agency catchment engineer Stephen Naylor said: “We are already under way with the important process of reviewing and testing how we operate our weir complex at Osney Lock, and training our staff on the new requirements. This is to ensure that both schemes at Osney operate efficiently without affecting water levels for navigation.”

The first community-owned hydro electricity scheme built on the Thames was originally due to be switched on by spring last year.

But the severe floods of winter 2013-14 meant Environment Agency officers overseeing the project were needed elsewhere and work was delayed.

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