Severn Barrage Arguments Still Rage

As we have mentioned before, the question as to whether to build a barrage across the River Severn from Weston-super-Mare to Penarth, next to Cardiff is one that is likely to run and run. With the potential to take advantage of the second highest tidal rise and fall in the world and provide up to one fifth of the energy required by the United Kingdom, it is obviously a scheme that could provide enormous benefits.

The suggested cost to complete the undertaking is put at about £35 billion, and although a previous government report has not looked favourably on the plan, the Prime Minister has inferred that he would consider proposals if they were deemed to be viable. Former Labour minister Peter Hain has also said that he would support the scheme.

The idea is being driven by a consortium based in South Wales, but perhaps not surprisingly, a group of four Local Enterprise Partnerships from the South West of England have decided that they would be opposing the scheme.

Colin Skellet, chairman of Bristol's LEP, said "We are all agreed the impact of the barrage on the environment far outweigh the benefits. The scheme is based on technology which is out of date and the carbon footprint of the barrage would be enormous."

Merlin Hyman, of environmental pressure group Regen South West, said "Of course if someone comes to the table with £35 billion of private finance to build this project, then the Government has to look at it. My principal concern is the barrage idea has stopped all discussions of alternative technologies, which we believe are more financially viable."

It can only be assumed that there may be other motives for this reticence to support the scheme, as one would have thought that as an island nation, we should be looking to harness the power of the tides, more so perhaps that the plethora of wind farms which don't always prove the answer.