Severn Barrage sunk - new ideas sought
WWT and other conservation organisations have welcomed the Government’s announcement to throw out plans for a 10 mile long tidal energy-generating barrage across the Severn Estuary.
The Severn estuary is home to more than 70,000 wintering birds – that’s why Sir Peter Scott originally established WWT in the wetlands of Slimbridge on the banks of the Severn. Many areas of the estuary are protected due its national and international importance for wildlife. The barrage would have had far reaching effects on the estuary environment.
The Government says it agrees with Parliamentary Committee findings that “the environmental impacts of the Hafren Power barrage, as currently presented to us, are very considerable and that there is a high risk of unintended and potentially damaging consequences”.
While welcoming the move to shelve the barrage, WWT Chief Executive Martin Spray hopes other ways can be found to harness the tidal power of the Severn to solve our increasing energy needs. He says:
“We can now stop wasting public money on assessing outdated barrage designs and instead start looking at innovative, scalable technology that will maximise power while minimising impact.
“I would love to see the Severn Estuary community bringing together inventors and investors to develop and export new tidal power ideas that tackle climate change without destroying our natural heritage.”
WWT has worked alongside other conservation organisations who are also welcoming the Government’s position.
Kate Jennings, from the RSPB, said:
“Once again, plans to build a Severn barrage have been effectively dismissed, described as ‘hypothetical’ and failing to demonstrate either effective mitigation of environmental impacts or value for money. This is fantastic news for the wildlife of the Severn, and a welcome blast of common sense from the Government.
“Conservationists have been warning for years that this poorly thought through project would devastate the ecosystem of this estuary, but it has somehow managed to stay on the table.
“It’s disappointing that Government has failed to more explicitly rule-out any further consideration of damaging barrage technology, but let’s hope this is the final nail in the coffin for this outdated and discredited technology which has held back the development of innovative, clean, green tidal power schemes. This barrage has been a diversion from the real task of finding innovative ways of generating clean electricity whilst safeguarding the precious wildlife of the estuary.”
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal said:
"Angling, wildlife and environmental groups have been united in their call for the Severn Barrage concept to be abandoned, calling instead for a renewed focus on environmentally sound and commercially viable way to harness a variety of sources of power in the Bristol Channel.
“We now welcome the Government’s recognition that the proposals put forward by Hafren Power were utterly inadequate. The Select Committee Inquiry clearly exposed the numerous unsubstantiated claims regarding the supposed economic and environmental benefits for the barrage and the massive threats to migratory fish and birds inherent in a scheme of this size."
Jonathan White, Chairman of Trustees, Severn Rivers Trust said:
"The Severn Rivers Trust welcomes the Government's rejection of Hafren Power's proposal to build a barrage across the Severn Estuary.
“Wherever in the world tidal barrages have been tried, they have been associated with huge environmental damage and adverse impact on wildlife. We hope the Government’s condemnation of yet another barrage means that the Severn Estuary will now be spared this fate. This should open the way for consideration of alternative, less environmentally damaging approaches to harnessing the renewable energy potential of the Severn."
Janina Gray, from the Salmon & Trout Association, said:
“We hope now we can finally put the proposal of a barrage to bed once and for all.
“The Severn estuary itself is a vital resource to the UK, providing important habitat for fish and birds, and functioning as gateway for migratory fish to internationally significant rivers such as the Wye and Usk. We must now move forward and focus on developing new ways to generate energy in the estuary without destroying its wildlife, like a full barrier would have done.”
Stephen Marsh-Smith of The Wye and Usk Foundation said:
“Enormous relief will be felt by those with concerns for fish and wildlife in the Severn estuary following the government negative response to Hafren Power’s proposals for a Barrage.
“We are particularly delighted to note that Government would uphold the requirements of both the Habitats and Water Framework Directives in any proposed barrage scheme. A great day for conservation.”
