A FORMER mining community hopes to be the first in the UK to use the profits from a green electricity scheme to take on and run council services.

People living in the County Durham village of Oakenshaw hope the “far-sighted” project would allow them to supply the National Grid.

The village’s community association has teamed up with social enterprise Community Renewable Energy (CoRE), of Berwick- Upon-Tweed, Northumberland.

Consultants have embarked on a £20,000 feasibility study, due to conclude in April, to decide what type of power would work best in the 300-home village. Wind power is one of the options.

John Spencer, who is association chairman, said the idea has strong support from residents who will get cheap electricity and could use the income to improve the environment.

“Part of the study is public consultation but not a single person has said ‘I don’t like this, I object to it’,” said Mr Spencer.

He says a turbine, once set-up costs are covered, could fetch £10,000 for the community each year, as it could power 600 homes.

Italy’s mountain village Tocco da Casauria is thought to be the only community in Europe to turn the dream into a reality.

“If it comes off it could be very exciting,” said Mr Spencer.

“If the figures are attractive, it could also be something for other communities to look at.”

But Ross Weddle, manager of CoRE, said the plans may prove costly to get off the ground.

He said: “If you were to buy a 50-metre turbine you would not be left with much change out of £1m, but, at the same time, it would pay for itself within five years and also have a 25-year life span.

“As a community Oakenshaw is extremely brave and adventurous but they also recognise there are models out there that have proven it is viable.

“It is a practical option for them but far-sighted.”

The feasibility study has been paid for by Durham County Council’s Three Towns Partnership and county councillor Becky Brunskill.

Mr Spencer said the plans showed people power but were not a response to cuts to the public sector.

“This idea started off before the Government changed,” he said.

“It is not part of the Big Society because, in many ways, the Big Society has always been around.”

ONE of the few other European communities which has attempted a plan like Oakenshaw’s is the medieval town of Tocco da Casauria, in Italy.

Situated in the central Apennine mountains, its inhabitants have traditionally farmed olives and wine, and kept sheep, but now four wind turbines provide energy for the 2,700 people who live there.

As it turned out, the mini-wind farm produced 50 per cent more electricity than the town needed, allowing villagers to make cash by selling electricity on.

The town has so far made 170,000 euros which town chiefs have ploughed back into the community.

As a result, a school is being restructured to withstand seismic activity and residents have in turn saved on local taxes or payments for services such as rubbish collection.

As Italy has some of the highest electricity costs in Europe and the project has proved to be such a success, Tocco da Casauria residents could soon take the next step and use solar energy.