Reading West MP, Martin Salter, has warned government ministers about the environmental and economic threat posed by the construction of the Severn tidal barrage. Mr Salter noted that Government have nominated the Severn estuary for EU protection because of its importance to fish stocks and wildlife; yet at the same time are considering putting a barrage across it that could have devastating consequences for the whole fishery, with a knock-on impact on the regional economy.
The government has launched a feasibility study into the proposed construction of a £15bn 10-mile barrage across the River Severn which could generate 5% of the UK’s electricity. The 2003 Energy White Paper dismissed the plans at the time because of fears about the cost and environmental damage.
The barrage has been opposed by a wide collation of environmental and conservation groups, including the National Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Salmon and Trout Association, the Wildlife Trusts, the United Usk Fisherman’s Association, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, WWF UK, Wye Salmon Fishery Owners Association and the Wye and Usk Foundation. At a House of Commons meeting in June Mr Salter spoke with representatives of the groups, and discussed their concerns.
On July 8th Mr Salter spoke in a parliamentary debate in Westminster Hall to highlight the contribution to the economy of recreational angling. He said:
“Perhaps the most famous trout and salmon rivers in the country are the Test and Itchen in Hampshire, which I know and in which I have fished for other species. A survey carried out in partnership with the Salmon and Trout Association, looking at the economic value of those two famous fisheries, showed that, in 2005, anglers spent £3.25 million in total to fish both rivers, of which £3 million was re-invested in river management, thus supporting 120 full and part-time jobs. The survey also showed that fishery owners spent a further £250,000, at least, on private conservation projects, mainly to carry out habitat improvements and restoration. So just two comparatively short rivers were generating in excess of £3 million to the local economy of one county.”
He added:
“The value of salmon [to the UK economy] is some £350 million a year. Bearing in mind that 25% of the spawning habitat for salmon—that is, 25 per cent. of the spawning habitat in England and Wales—is upstream of the proposed Severn barrage, and given that its construction would effectively destroy migratory fish runs, the simple conclusion is that the construction of the Severn barrage would be cataclysmic for migratory fish in the Severn, Wye and Usk catchment … [and] would also destroy wild bird habitats formed naturally by the Severn’s huge tidal range and protected by European law. The Government would have to recreate those sites elsewhere and ensure that they were of similar value to wildlife and that they were on a similarly large scale.”
Mr Salter followed up his speech with a Parliamentary question to DEFRA Minister Jonathan Shaw on July 17th. Mr Salter asked:
“What contribution does he think the Severn barrage will make to aquatic life, bearing in mind the dire warnings from the powerful coalition of wildlife and fishery groups about the damage that the barrage will do to migratory fish runs of salmon and sea trout, which provide such vital income and recreational assets to the Wye, Usk and Severn catchment areas?”
The Minister responded:
“I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who has a proud and distinguished record as Labour’s angling spokesman; he has a done a great deal that has been welcomed in all sections of the fishing community. On the Severn barrage, I am well aware that the Severn and its tributaries, including the Wye and the Usk, are valuable spawning grounds for a number of important migratory fish, including salmon and eels. Our feasibility study will examine the possibility of developing the barrage, which could provide 5 per cent. of this country’s electricity and make a huge contribution to our renewable efforts. However, we will need to balance that against the important environmental damage that would be caused. Those are the issues that confront us today, and we must make balanced choices. What my hon. Friend and anglers have said about the barrage will form part of our consideration as we move forward on the feasibility study.”
Mr Salter said:
“I understand the need for new sources of renewable energy to meet EU targets, and in the battle against climate change. However, the Severn Tidal Barrage will be devastating for the fish stocks and marine life in the Severn, Wye and Usk catchment. Not only would this be an environmental disaster, but would wipe out the millions of pounds recreational fishing contributes to the economy. The creation of the Severn Tidal Barrage runs contrary to all the environmental protection the government is bringing forward in the Marine Bill, and is simply not the right solution to our energy gap. I hope the feasibility study will look at less environmentally damaging alternatives such as tidal lagoons or tideway turbines which can create green energy without destroying the Severn estuary.”
