Barrage could open Pandora's box - WWF

Spokesperson for WWF, Colin Butfield, said: "It could open up a Pandora's box, enabling all kinds of developments to override the protection of key habitats and species."

WWF, along with fellow environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and the Wetland and Wildlife Trust, based in Slimbridge near the Severn, believe that the existing habitat around the Severn Estuary site need to be protected.

"The UK urgently needs to develop its renewable energy resources but not at the expense of international protected sites," said WWF.

"The government needs to be absolutely sure that they can justify spending huge sums of public money on this one-off barrage project."

Potential

The government claims the River Severn provides the largest potential for renewable electricity generation, with Hutton describing the potential scale of the project as "breathtaking."

The Severn Estuary is one of the biggest estuaries in the UK, but its classic funnel shape helps give it the second highest tidal range in the world.

When announcing the need for a feasibility study back in January, Hutton said: "A Severn tidal power project could be larger in size, output and cost than any other energy project in this country.

"It has the potential to generate up to five percent of the UK's electricity demand and contribute significantly to the proposed EU renewable energy targets.

The feasibility study team will report to Mr Hutton and to ministers from several other government departments as well as the Welsh Assembly.

 

Brean Down, the site of the proposed barrage.

 

Related articles -

'Huge public support' for barrage

Barrage breaches the law - FOE