Back the Severn Barrage
Reports that the Government and Conservative parties are preparing to 'delay indefinitely' plans to harness energy from the Severn are deeply disappointing.
Tidal energy from the Severn could produce up to five per cent of the UK's electricity needs and create jobs and opportunities.
The Liberal Democrats do not want the Cardiff to Weston barrage which would have too great an environmental impact and prevent Bristol Port building its new deep-water container terminal.
Instead we want to see a smaller 'shoots barrage' combined with other tidal stream technologies.
With the Copenhagen summit approaching this is yet another climb-down from a Government that has failed to provide leadership on climate change and energy security, and from a Tory party that abandoned its green rhetoric as soon as we went into recession.
Yes of course it would cost a lot of money to harness energy from the Severn – which just throws into sharper focus the folly of spending £12.5 billion on a VAT cut that few consumers have noticed.
Paul Harrod, Prospective Liberal Democrat MP, Bristol North West
3 Comments
by Carl Merry, Slimbridge
Monday, November 02 2009, 11:29AM
“Not so fast Paul! I have read the Lib Dems Report 'A Tidal Solution - the Way Forward and quite frankly it just doesn't pass muster. It calls for 'swift progress towards the construction of a Shoots Barrage'. Ironically the report also makes reference to the unknown effects of siltation and that more research was required. Kinda proves my point doesn't it? How can you stand on a soap box and advance the cause of such a major project when you don't have the evidence at hand. Interestingly some minor considerations are mentioned regarding Sharpness and lock sizes but they are pithy in the extreme. One notes that no-one from Sharpness Port or the Gloucester Harbour Area was consulted in the drafting of it, though Bristol Port were considered. Considered? Balanced? Frankly it's not even worth peer review.”
by Paul Harrod, Bristol
Monday, November 02 2009, 10:55AM
“Carl,
My letter was, inevitably, a very brief summary of our overall policy, which I would be very happy to email you (or any other reader that would like a full copy).
It is a very comprehensive policy that has looked into the environmental, economic and engineering issues.
That does not mean that this policy might not alter in the light of new evidence.
Yet the Government has dragged out this consultation process for year after year and now they might delay any decision indefinitely.
It is another example of their dithering and lack of commitment to dealing with climate change and energy security.”
by Carl Merry, Slimbridge
Saturday, October 31 2009, 9:49AM
“Good for you Mr Harrod. One can only assume that the Lib Dems have access to much more technical data than has so far been presented to the Feasibility Study with regards to a B4 or B5 barrage. Perhapsyou could further enlighten us on the economic costs to Sharpness port, your take on the somewhat nebulous sediment and geomorpholigical studies not withstanding that a Shoots Barrage will wipe out 5000 hectares of intertidal mudflats - that will still need compensation for. How a political party can draw conclusions from when a technical appraisal is not yet complete is beyond me. Still lucky its only the Lib Dems eh?”