Settle Projects

Renaissance Market Towns projects in Settle include:

• Signage and route promotion - providing comprehensive signage for the town centre, linking key sites across the area including the main entry points to the town. The aim is to review and develop interpretation boards, including a new town map.

• Settle area riverside improvements - Phase 1 of this project is now complete and has developed the section of river bank between Settle Bridge and the memorial footbridge making it accessible to walkers, disabled and cyclists. This has also created stronger links with the town centre. There will be the provision of interpretation boards and a stone seat which will be dedicated to the memory of Deirdre Cokell, the project champion and first chair of StART. The project has also seen two community tree planting events. The project is aimed at improving the visitor offer in Settle, providing a safe link to two local schools and for residents of Giggleswick wishing to access the centre of Settle. Craven District Council is currently seeking funding for phase 2 to extend the pathway to the south, linking up with Sandholme Crescent. This project fits with a wider strategy for outdoor adventure in the area, which is seeking to link into new bridleways being developed in Gisburn Forest Lancashire. Find out more about this project, or click here to read our case study.

• Settle Hydro – the development of a micro-hydro power generation project. This is a project developed by members of StART who have formed themselves into an Industrial and Provident Society (Settle Hydro Limited) in order to deliver this project which is about to be built on site. The hydro is a reverse action Archimedes Screw power generation plant built on Settle Weir on the River Ribble. This will then supply the energy to the national grid. Due to the Ribble being a major salmon migratory river, water will only be pulled off for power generation when there is sufficient flow so as not to impede the operation of the fish ladder. In order to finance the project Settle Hydro have received grants from Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Market Towns programme and Future Energy Yorkshire, they have secured loans and undertaken a community share issue. Jason Orange (Take That) is one of their share holders. The sale of the electricity to the national grid will generate an income, which after discharging loan obligations and paying a dividend to the share holders will leave a surplus to be reinvested in community projects. Industrial and Provident Societies are run for the mutual benefit of its members and profits are used to provide better services and facilities, in this instance for the town. Find out more about this project, or click here to read our case study. Click here for live webcams of the hydro. Click here for the live power output.

• Rural Target Fund Projects – small projects delivered by North Yorkshire County Council, funded by Yorkshire Forward’s RMT programme. These have included:
  - Youth Cyber Café - in the cellars space under Settle Town Hall, funding was provided for new refurbished facilities for the Cellar project, which provided space for young people to meet. Funding was used to convert the basement area of Settle Town Hall into a recreation room and kitchen, a computer suite and office and meeting areas.
  - Cobbles - replacement of historic cobbles to improve the fabric of the public realm.

- Signage and route promotion - linking key sites across the area.
- Settle Station Renewable Energy Scheme - this project installed and demonstrated to the wider community the renewable energy options operating within the community and commercial buildings. The project highlights the environmental aspect of heating and lighting using renewable energy but also demonstrates the financial aspects, such as capital costs and ongoing costs of running alternative technology rather than installing mains power or fossil fuel equivalents.