Time running out on barrage consultation

Members of the public have just 10 days left to make their views known on whether or not a 10-mile barrage should be built across the Severn Estuary.

In January the Department of Energy and Climate Change revealed a short list of five projects that could be built to generate clean, green electricity from the power of the tides in the Severn estuary.

The options include the widely publicised 10-mile barrage from Cardiff to Weston, two smaller barrages further up the channel, or two lagoons, one would be built on the English bank of the river the other is proposed to be built on the Welsh side.

Ed Miliband, energy and climate change secretary, said: "We have tough choices to make. Failing to act on climate change could see catastrophic effects on the environment and its wildlife, but the estuary itself is a protected environment, home to vulnerable species including birds and fish.

"We need to think about how to balance the value of this unique natural environment against the long-term threat of global climate change.

"It is vital we seek public views and collect all information we need to make sure our climate change actions are ambitious yet fair."

However, organisations involved in the consultation are concerned that not enough members of the public have contributed.

Dr Sean Christian, from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), said: "On the government website the first group they want to get opinions from are the general public but for the general public to access the information is very hard.

"There is an idea held by people that just because they don't know all of the hard facts they cannot have an opinion on the options.

"Most people around here have a connection with the river whether they fish there, walk there dog there.

"We want to have more of a debate about the proposals and get people talking about it and taking an interest because this will affect everyone."

According to Dr Christian the RSPB is also concerned about the absence of innovative options in the government’s short list.

Mr Miliband did announce £500,000 of funding to help further develop new technologies like tidal reefs and fences and promised the progress of these technologies would be looked at in 2010 and considered for inclusion.

Dr Christian said: "The RSPB supports the alternative technologies like the tidal reef concept but at the moment this isn't in the government's short list because it is untested technology.

"However, the Severn Estuary is a very special place unlike anywhere they have built a barrage before.

"It is a muddy estuary and to put 10 miles of concrete across it, which would effectively create a dam, which could create unknown consequences.

"Next year the government will look again at the short list and decide whether or not it has the right options on it and this is when we hope to get some alternative technologies included."

"It is important everyone gives their views whether they agree with one or none of the options," he added.

The government’s consultation on Severn Tidal Power ends on Thursday, April 23.

More information can be found by visiting, http://severntidalpowerconsultation.decc.gov.uk Short list of Severn Tidal Options Cardiff to Weston Barrage From Brean Down to Lavernock Point.

Commonly known as The Severn Barrage More than thirty times the size of the barrage at La Rance Estimated to generate 4.8 percent of UK’s electricity demand Estimated construction cost £19.6-22.2 billion Pros May offer tidal flood protection to Gwent levels and Avonmouth Significant employment opportunities during construction Cons Loss of 20,000 hectares of intertidal habitat Impact on migratory fish Providing over £20bn of finance either publicly or privately in current fiscal climate is very difficult Shoots Barrage Near the Severn Road Crossings Estimated to generate just under one percent of UK’s electricity demand Pros Largest barrage that could be taken forward with limited government involvement on cost Does not directly impede the major Estuary ports Lower impact on intertidal habitat loss Cons Impact on migratory fish Loss of 5,000 hectares of Intertidal habitat Does not make full use of Severn Estuary electricity potential Potential build up of sediment behind barrage needs further investigation Beachley Barrage Upstream of the River Wye Smallest barrage considered.

Estimated to generate less than one percent of UK’s electricity demand Estimated construction cost between £2.1-2.5 billion Pros Does not impact the major ports Causes the least intertidal habitat loss as its upstream of the River Wye and may have a reduced impact on that river Less impact on fish although still some impact Cheapest in terms of capital cost Cons Smaller energy output than the majority of other schemes Loss of 3,500 hectares of Intertidal habitat Potential build up of sediment behind barrage needs further investigation Bridgwater Bay - Tidal Lagoon on the English grounds Impoundment on the English shore of the Estuary between Hinkley Point and Weston Super Mare Estimated to generate just under one percent of UK’s electricity demand Estimated construction cost between £3.4-4.1 billion Pros Proven technology Lowest unit cost of energy for lagoon options Potentially less detrimental on local ports and fisheries than barrages Cons Loss of 5,500 hectares of Intertidal habitat Possibility of sediment build up within the impounded area needs further investigation Fleming lagoon - Lagoon enclosure on the Welsh grounds Impoundment on the Welsh shore of the Estuary between Newport and the Severn road crossings Estimated to generate less than one percent of the UK’s electricity demand Estimated construction cost between £4.1-4.9 billion Pros Proven technology, less technical risk than embryonic technology.

Potential to have a less detrimental effect on local ports and fisheries.

Lower impact on intertidal habitat than large barrage schemes.

Cons Loss of 6,500 hectares of Intertidal habitat Potential build up of sediment within the impounded area needs further investigation