South Somerset Climate Action

Sunday 5 April at 3pm

Chard Guildhall, Fore Street, Chard TA20 1PP

SEVERN BARRAGE – Are there better options?

Everyone knows that we could have cheap renewable electricity from the tides that surge up the Severn Estuary twice a day, every day — or so they believe!Renewable? Yes! Cheap? No! Damage to wildlife? Awful! And yet, easy-to-get-at oil will soon be gone and we now have to import much of our gas. Something must be done!All this and more will be debated and, with only 18 days after that to respond to the official consultation, the matter is urgent.

It is also complicated — there are no easy answers.

The Government has looked at ten schemes – and chosen five for further study. One of those rejected by Government engineers is for a ‘reef’ rather than a simple ‘barrage’. Could a reef be better for wildlife? Better for shipping? Less silting? Quicker to construct and get into electricity generation? And cheaper? RSPB asked engineers, Atkins, to take an independent look at the reef idea. Atkins supported some of these claims but the Government’s team does not agree. The argument rages.

The main speaker at the event will be Rupert Armstrong Evans who has put his own money into designing the ‘reef’ scheme. This he believes would cause much less disruption to fish and bird life. Michelle Osbourn of Somerset Wildlife Trust will describe how some hundred different types of fish swim in and out of the Severn. Around 70,000 birds a year feed on the mudflats. Joe Burlington, Chairman of South Somerset Climate Action will say that the most any scheme could produce is 5% of our electricity. Each year however, UK electricity use increases by 1%. So Severn tidal energy alone will not solve our problems. We need to cut back whichever scheme is adopted – and they might all cost too much anyway.

Technically, tidal power is exciting. We really could be on to something but there are questions at every turn. Would a 13-mile barrage be best — all the way from Weston to Cardiff — or would a reef be better? What’s a lagoon? Will it just fill with mud? How do they work? How will ships get through? Will one of these stop floods – or make things worse?

Nobody who comes should expect answers to everything but Somerset Wildlife Trust and South Somerset Climate Action believe that ordinary people should be told about the project and urged to say what they think.

‘The time is right for more innovative, modern and less environmentally damaging tidal energy schemes to come to the fore’ Simon Nash, Somerset Wildlife Trust‘Surely the Government can find a tidal power scheme that is sustainable, one that doesn’t sacrifice this estuary’s natural environment?’ Mark Robins, RSPB ‘Will our grandchildren thank us … or curse us? Maybe we should use less … a lot less!’
Joe Burlington, South Somerset Climate Action The Department of Energy & Climate Change wants our views by 23 April. The evidence gathered in phase 1 is on the web - and to take part in the consultation go to: http://SevernTidalPowerConsultation.decc.gov.ukTickets: Chard Guildhall 01460 65710 — Somerset Wildlife Trust 01823 652400 or South Somerset Climate Action 01460 55323 or email Joe@JBurlington.co.ukAdmission free — Tea, coffee, cake — Donations will be requested