Barrage scheme 'out of date'
AN influential organisation has spoken out against plans for a £35-billion scheme to build a barrage across the Bristol Channel.
As reported in The Post, a consortium based in South Wales has come up with a new scheme that would link Weston-super-Mare with Penarth and create a barrage capable of generating a fifth of the power needed in the UK.
The scheme is being backed by former Labour minister Peter Hain.
But the four Local Enterprise Partnerships in the South West have decided to oppose the project.
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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 The scheme is based on technology which is out of date and the carbon footprint of the barrage would be enormous."
Mr Hain has claimed the barrage would create thousands of jobs but Bristol Port opposed the plan. An earlier government report dismissed the idea, but David Cameron said he would not be opposed to the project if it proved to be economically viable.
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."
Comments
by johndavies
Saturday, November 17 2012, 11:26AM
“"It's been bouncing around for longer than that. It was one of the options when the Severn Tunnel was proposed."
1849 Thomas Fulljames”
by J12345678
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 11:49PM
“@Gary_H
When did feasibility, flaws and poor value for money ever stop your projects?
GBBN QUOTE TO 75% OF RESPONDENTS AGAINST THE SCHEME: You may have a negative view of the project but you simply misunderstand the details?”
by benjiman
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 11:27PM
“Building a barrage will take more than 4 years.
Government term is 4 years. It will take a very brave government to build this.
Now, who's going to volunteer to have no power first as the brownouts start when our supply of electricity is less than the demand? I reckon the NIMBYs”
by katachua
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 9:42PM
“@green_man
"Wouldn't we have built the thing by now if it was really that good an idea?"
Don't forget that this Bristol...”
by gary_hopkins
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 7:21PM
“It probably never will happenas feasability studies have shown up many of the flaws and poor value for money.
The point though is that whilst it is still hanging around as a possibility a huge investment in the port is being put off and other more efficient forms of tidal energy generation that are affordable abd value for money are being delayed.
That is why it has been raised by Jon Rogers as an election issue and why the Local Enterprise partnership has written to government.
We need a clear government decision to send Hain packing.”
by PortisheadAH1
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 8:18AM
“Relax, after many, many years of talk, a barrage has never happened and will never happen.”
by J12345678
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 12:29AM
“It strikes me that Jon/Gary/etc only oppose the project as it's a Welsh idea and not dreamt up by their LibDem cronies. Is there an election on Thursday by chance?”
by green_man
Monday, November 12 2012, 10:38PM
“I meant that the more recent proposals have been bouncing around since the Blair/Brown years...Just read that the first barrage proposal was made in 1849 by Thomas Fulljames the county surveyor for Gloucestershire and the first official study group was commissioned in 1925! Thats if wikipedia can be relied on http://tinyurl.com/8qw28gp
Wouldn't we have built the thing by now if it was really that good an idea?”
by Macadam2000
Monday, November 12 2012, 10:30PM
“They have been debating this for well over 100 years - it won't happen any time soon.”
by katachua
Monday, November 12 2012, 6:41PM
“@green_man
"The issue has been bouncing around for years now...under the Blair/Brown Govt and the current Coalition Govt. "
It's been bouncing around for longer than that. It was one of the options when the Severn Tunnel was proposed.”