‘Our grandchildren will be beneficiaries of £15bn barrage’

Oct 2 2007 by David Williamson, Western Mail

AN OFFICIAL report has given the strongest indication yet that a controversial £15bn barrage will be built across the Severn estuary.

The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) yesterday endorsed the scheme saying harnessing tidal power could provide the UK with a source of clean energy into the 22nd century.

But it said the barrage could only be justified if an “unprecedented” conservation effort was launched to provide alternative habitats for the wildlife that depends on the estuary.

Peter Davies, of the SDC, said, “Our grandchildren and great- grandchildren will be beneficiaries of this project.”

The commission’s report – launched at the National Assembly and in London – comes days after the Government announced an inquiry into the proposed barrage.

The report rejects the argument that large-scale tidal lagoons, which are preferred by environmental groups, would cost less to construct or be environmentally preferable.

But Mr Davies cast doubt on claims from politicians and business leaders that the barrage could provide a road and rail link.

He said, “There will need to be locks within the barrage to allow shipping. Now, we haven’t actually seen any designs that both incorporate locks and road transport.”

The project should be seen as a way of helping Britain achieve renewable energy goals and not as a flood protection measure or an economic tool, he argued.

“We have a vast target to meet which we are not meeting at all,” he said. The report also insists that the project must be led and owned by the public sector to prevent short-term decision-making.

This recommendation comes despite the fact a consortium of six engineering and construction businesses, known as the Severn Tidal Power Group, last year won crucial initial support for the concept from First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain.

But consortium spokesman Roger Hull described the SDC report as “excellent”.

“They made the point [public sector leadership] would be very valuable because the Government can borrow money to fund [projects] at a lower rate than the private sector,” he said. “If that’s true, that’s an excellent idea.”

The commission anticipates the planning process for the barrage – stretching from Lavernock Point, in the Vale of Glamorgan to Brean Down, in Somerset – may take up to seven years, and the barrage may not be completed until 2027. But the barrage could be operational for up to 120 years.

Up to 15,000 hectares of alternative habitat for the area’s wildlife – including species of rare birds – may have to be created around Britain. While the project would have sobering biodiversity implications, fears that more carbon would be released in construction than saved though electricity were said to be unfounded.

Neil Crumpton, of Friends of the Earth Cymru, was disappointed the commission did not back tidal lagoons – although it has recommended at least one should be developed to test the potential of the concept.

Describing the consequences of the barrage project, Mr Crumpton said, “We’ll have seriously damaged an international wildlife site for around 1% of UK energy.

“That is not leading the world. That is just leading destruction.

“Why shouldn’t other countries damage their rainforests or biomass or whatever if that’s what we’re doing?”

Lembit Opik, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said, “The real question now is not if we should harness tidal power from the Severn estuary, but how we should do it.”

Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, added, “A barrage in the Severn could make a significant contribution to our efforts on addressing climate change but we have to proceed with care.”

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