Instead the charity says it’s time to work with businesses, academics and other stakeholders around the Severn to produce a more compelling vision that both secures renewable power generation AND safeguards its status as an internationally important estuary system.
Mark Robins, RSPB Policy Officer for the South West said: “It’s hard to see a Cardiff to Weston barrage as anything other than a spectre hanging over a much more 21st Century vision for the Severn.
“An UK£8 million study by DECC for the last Government concluded there was no sensible business case for such a barrage. Last week Prime Minister David Cameron said the barrage idea was “a long way off any sort of rational fruition”.
“Yet another re-launch of this zombie-like idea, once more back from the grave, hardly helps stimulate creative discussion about the Severn, one that is innovating, focused on solutions, and that unlocks potential for this UK hot spot for both business and environment.
“The RSPB has a simple test to offer marine energy projects in the Severn – to ensure the delivery of the maximum capacity of renewable energy for the minimum impact on the natural environment. At this time it is unclear that Hafren Power’s barrage scheme would be deliverable, be affordable for the consumer, and acceptable in terms of its environmental impact.”
RSPB is currently in discussion with the Bristol Port Company and UWE Bristol to find creative ways forward that makes the most of this fantastic resource.
Sue Turner, Director of Communications at The Bristol Port Company said: “The Cardiff-Weston barrage would destroy almost as many jobs as it would create and cost energy consumers a fortune so that foreign investors can line their pockets. We are working on better ways to generate energy from the Severn without the negative consequences.”
Tom Appleby senior lecturer in law at UWE said: “The Severn is one of the most dynamic natural systems in the world and there are some huge opportunities for sustainable development driven by locally developed technologies.”