We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Stop any plans to build a severn barrage.”
Details of Petition:
“The river severn is a truely unique wildlife habitat of world wide significance. Building a severn barrage will distroy much of this. What is the point of creating “green” energy if the price we pay is environmental vandalism and distruction of important eco systems.”
Read the Government’s response
In January 2008, following a report from the Sustainable Development Commission, the Government launched a study looking at the feasibility of a tidal power scheme in the Severn Estuary. The aim of the study is to enable Government to decide whether, and on what terms, a tidal range power scheme in the Severn Estuary could be supported.
The study will focus on the different tidal range technologies available, including barrages and lagoons, and will assess in broad terms the costs and benefits and the environmental, social, regional, economic and energy market impacts of a tidal power scheme. It will consider what measures Government could put in place to bring forward a scheme that fulfils regulatory requirements and it will include a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to ensure a detailed understanding of the Estuary’s environmental resource, recognising the nature conservation and biodiversity significance of the Estuary.
The Study is likely to take around two years, culminating in a public consultation in early 2010 after the UK Renewable Energy Strategy is expected to be launched. Therefore the Renewable Energy Strategy will look at the role a Severn Tidal Power scheme could play in the wider context of energy supply, but a decision on whether Government could support a scheme will not be taken until after the feasibility study concludes in 2010.
If this study were to conclude in favour of a scheme utilizing tidal power from the Seven in principle then significantly more detailed work would be carried out looking at the detailed engineering, environmental, social and economic viability and seeking the various planning and development consents needed for such a scheme. Only if the findings of this more detailed work are in favour and development consents achieved would a scheme go ahead.
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