News Releases > Severn tidal study ill-informed and ill-timed 25th September 2007 For immediate release

Map courtesy of www.burnham-on-sea.com

 
The announcement of a feasibility study into a Severn Barrage has been condemned by Bristol's Green Parties as ill-timed, ill-informed, and badly targetted.

They say that the government is ignoring more promising and effective ways to harness the estuary's power reserves without the massive environmental damage that would be wreaked by a barrage.

Earlier this year, the Green Party's conference decided after lengthy briefings to oppose a barrage in favour of tidal lagoons, such as the one planned for Swansea Bay, and subsea turbines.

Bristol Green Party spokesman Peter Goodwin said:

"The Minister is very badly informed if he really thinks the study should just look at the costs and benefits of a barrage, instead of an inclusive look at the alternatives. You can't help thinking that this is not really driven by the need for renewable energy - it's more about land development, ports and marinas and the profit opportunities they'll bring. No wonder they let the Business Minister make the announcement instead of an energy or environment minister"

"It's extraordinary, too, that after waiting far too many years for a serious study, he's announcing it just before the Sustainable Development Commission comes up with its own recommendations. He's also ignoring objections from authorities such as the Environment Agency and Natural England ^{[Note 1]}, who believe a Barrage could not be developed without intolerable and unlawful damage to this internationally prized environment"

Contact: Peter Goodwin at 01275 543280

Notes

1. See letter, 31/5/2006
2. See Friends of the Earth briefing "A Severn barrage or tidal lagoons?", Jan 2004

what happened next.... 25th September: The Minister's speech, and the covering government press release limited the scope of the study to a barrage. It provoked many objections as well as ours, all on the same lines. 27th September: In an interview with the Evening Post, John Hutton said that the study will embrace other forms of renewable tidal power. His main theme, though, was that the barrage would be privately funded for private profit. 1st October: Sustainable Development Commission publishes its Tidal Power Study offering a highly conditional blessing to a barrage - subject to public financing, habitat restoration and creation, and a pilot lagoon project. 9th October: Labour, LibDem and Tory groups on Bristol City Council prioritise a 'greenwash' motion supporting John Hutton's initial position