"Tidal Reef must not be dropped from Severn short-list" - Mick Bates AM (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

"Tidal Reef must not be dropped from Severn short-list" - Mick Bates AM

December 2, 2008 12:00 AM

Following the second meeting of the Liberal Democrat Severn Power inquiry, which heard evidence on the Tidal Reef project, Mick Bates AM, is urging Government Ministers to ensure that this visionary proposal makes the short-list in the next stage of the UK Government's Severn Feasibility Study.

Following the launch of the Atkins report, commissioned by the RSPB, Mr Rupert Armstrong of Armstrong Evans and Associates attended the Liberal Democrat meeting to give evidence on the Tidal Reef proposal for the Severn Estuary.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Mick Bates AM said:

"Tidal Reef is an exciting proposal, which could potentially generate 20TWh/yr, which is 3TWh/yr more than the Cardiff-Weston barrage proposal and would cost £2bn less, whilst largely maintaining the significant habitats that exist within the estuary.

"The recently commissioned RSPB report carried out by Atkins, suggests that the tidal reef proposal would take only 2 years and £0.5million to develop to project design stage and has the potential to begin electricity generation within the timescale for the construction of a Cardiff-Weston barrage.

"Finding a solution which delivers maximum energy at minimum environmental cost must be the focus of the Severn Feasibility Study. If the UK is to have any hope of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050, at an appropriate economic and environmental cost, then it must look seriously at proposals such as tidal reef.

"I am concerned that the Severn Feasibility Study's short-listing process is likely to exclude exciting proposals that are not yet at project design stage. Because of this, the visionary and less environmentally damaging Tidal Reef option, as well as other less environmentally damaging options, could be dropped from DECC's study.

"I have urged the Minister Jane Davidson to make urgent representations to Westminster colleagues, to ensure that the Tidal Reef proposal can be short-listed for further consideration during the second stage of the Government's feasibility study and be given the attention and consideration that it deserves."

Notes:

The Severn Power Inquiry is made up of elected Liberal Democrats at all levels of government from both sides of the River Severn, and is co-chaired by Mike German AM and Steve Webb MP.

The SPI will be meeting through the winter and in to spring and intends to come to conclusion that can be put as a policy before the Federal Party in September 09.

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