People say no to River Severn barrage plans (From Gazette Series)

People say no to River Severn barrage plans

6:00pm Wednesday 29th October 2008 in News

PEOPLE in the Southwest have said no to a barrage across the River Severn.

In a recent survey, conducted by Stop the Barrage Now campaign, 82 percent of those asked said they do not want a barrage if it will cause job loses, and 90 percent said they did not want a barrage if it would have a negative effect on the local economy.

A further 80 percent said they did not want a barrage if it means reduced habitat for birds and other wildlife in the estuary.

Stop the Barrage Now is a coalition of organisations and individuals campaigning to persuade the Government to focus on alternative tidal energy schemes in the estuary.

These recent survey results come as the Government is currently carrying out a feasibility study into renewable energy possibilities in the Severn Estuary.

Ten schemes are being considered including four barrage proposals, a short list of the proposed options will be announced later this month.

John Hutton, the Secretary of State for Energy, has said a Severn tidal power project could generate up to five percent of the country's electricity demand.

Stuart Ballard, chairman of Save Our Severn, which supports the Stop the Barrage Now campaign, said: "We totally support the need to explore and develop more sustainable forms of energy, but believe there are other ways of generating tidal power from the Severn that will not mean the loss of hundreds of jobs and cause irreparable damage to our economy or to wildlife, as well as costing billions of pounds.

"Before any more taxpayers' money is spent, politicians need to take a good look at all the facts, consider the views of their constituents and decide whether the results will justify the costs."

For more information about the Stop the Barrage Now campaign visit, www.stopthebarrage.com