news story

26th January 2009

MP Condemns Severn Barrage Shortlist Decision

Northavon MP Steve Webb has condemned the Government's decision to exclude innovative ideas to harness Severn tidal power from its shortlisted options, announced this morning.

The Government is expected to earmark for further study three barrage options (Cardiff-Weston, 'Shoots' - around the Second Severn Crossing, and 'Beachley', just north of the old Severn Bridge) and two lagoon schemes. But the Government has said it will not take further detailed work on options such as a Tidal Reef (which has won favour with the RSPB) or a tidal fence.

Steve Webb is co-chairing a Liberal Democrat inquiry into the options for Severn Tidal power and said he was disappointed that these more unusual ideas had already been ruled out.

Steve Webb said:

"The Government has admitted that we won't be getting any tidal power from the Severn until well into the 2020s. In this case they should not be ruling out ideas such as a Tidal Reef which have the potential to reduce the environmental damage done by such a structure whilst still generating large amounts of renewable power.

"If the Government does not take environmental objections seriously, any proposal risks being bogged down in years of legislation, so more environmentally-friendly options should be pursued vigorously, not dropped from the shortlist".

Although the Government has promised around £500,000 for research into 'innovative' alternatives, these have been dropped from the official shortlist and this is likely to be only a small part of the cost of developing such schemes into workable alternatives.

The Government will now be consulting for three months on whether this shortlist is the right decision before moving forward, and Steve Webb said he would be making representations to ministers to look more widely at the alternatives available.