Villagers would get their water from a single main under the plan

A scheme to provide all the heating needs of a community on Anglesey with a single boiler is being discussed.

People in Newborough - which has just 317 households - could control their own bills as well as own the district heating system under the plan

Each household would draw heat from one hot water main.

Views on the idea, called the Dwynwen Project, are being sought from local people.

"The location of such a scheme at Newborough is ideal because it is close to one of the largest woodlands on the island," said Simon Hunt, of Coed Cymru Cyf.

"It is also a fairly compact, nucleated village - another reason which makes it ideal for running a district heating system."

The only thing that would worry me would be if the trees were thinned out Fiona Jones, local resident

Door-to-door surveys, part of a feasibility study, are being organised to gauge reaction.

Councillor Gwyn Jones, who represents the Rhosyr ward, said he thought it was an imaginative initiative.

"It could have far-reaching environmental and economic benefits for Newborough and I await the results of the survey with interest."

Resident's worries

But one resident, Fiona Jones, a worker in Newborough Post Office, has reservations.

"The only thing that would worry me would be if the trees were thinned out.

"I have lived here all my life and the forest is lovely.

"It would be a shame if we got rid of the trees - we have oil central heating and the bills are not bad."

Post-war forest

Martin Gould, the Forestry Commission's area manager for Newborough said the 700-hectare forest made up mainly of Corsican pine was planted around 1947.

"Newborough is a commercial forest anyway so we have a clearing programme," he said.

"The timber is already being used for building materials or pulp for paper, it is already in a managed thinning regime," he said.

"Personally I would welcome having this local scheme providing a resource for the community."

It is hoped the project would reduce the amount of energy used and heating costs.

Improved insulation and reducing pollution as well as providing a use for local timber, are some of the reasons being put forward for the scheme.

Anglesey Council leader Bob Parry said residents would be asked again for their views after the study's results are made known.