POLICE have been called three times regarding rows over Abingdon’s hydro power plant project before construction has even begun.

Officers were first called to an argument at Abingdon Weir on Friday between walkers and volunteers clearing trees to make way for building work.

Abingdon Lock keeper Richard Hawkins called police on Monday after he was accosted by a man warning him to support the scheme.

Project opponent Mike Gould then reported “hate mail” he received after calling the hydro scheme a “vanity project” in a letter to the Abingdon Herald.

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The anonymous response, which Mr Gould received on Friday, said: “What a pathetic, narrow minded little man you must be.

“To condemn the hydro project – which is a fantastic, non-profit-making use of a natural resource – shows that you are a complete and utter Pratt [sic].

“Why don’t you just crawl back into your miserable little shell and let those with some vision of a better Abingdon get on with things.”

Mr Gould, 66, of Jackman Close, Abingdon, said: “This is cowardly, trollish behaviour – I think we should have a proper debate.”

He said Mr Hawkins, who declined to be interviewed, was confronted by a man who told him: “If you don’t support the project, it will be the worse for you, so look out.”

Not-for-profit company Abingdon Hydro wants to raise £1.25m for two Archimedes screws in the Thames at Abingdon Weir, to generate up to 100kW of electricity a year, enough for 120 homes. About 20 volunteers helped clear trees and vegetation from the site over three days starting last Wednesday to make way for construction.

Mr Gould said: “I’m not anti-green but when you drill down into this scheme it doesn’t make any sense at all.”

Abingdon Hydro secretary Richard Riggs, 71, said he had no idea who accosted Mr Hawkins or who wrote the letter to Mr Gould.

Mr Riggs, of Cameron Avenue, Abingdon, said: “There is no way we are going to encourage people to be nasty to others. I have no idea who this person is and wouldn’t count him as a supporter.”

Police spokeswoman Connie Primmer said police were called to a “dispute” at Abingdon Lock on Friday, but no offences were found to have been committed.


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