Severn barrage sunk

10 June 2013

A Westminster Committee report published today [1] highlights major difficulties any Severn Barrage proposal would face in gaining approval. MPs stated that any scheme would have to overcome serious environmental concerns and in any case would not provide value for money.

Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"This report has just sunk the Severn Barrage. It confirms what Friends of the Earth Cymru has argued for several years - the proposed scheme is financially unviable at a time when the cost of solar and wind power is coming down rapidly. But it's not just the bad economics of this plan that have killed it off. The MPs rightly have serious concerns around internationally important habitats, protected fish species and increased flood risk for communities in south east Wales.

"But this isn't the end of the story in the Severn estuary. The Committee says that we need a more proactive approach to marine renewables that could drive forward tidal projects, in particular smaller scale tidal projects. And that's why Friends of the Earth Cymru is so pleased to see the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project forging ahead."

NOTES

1. House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee Report: "A Severn Barrage?"

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577