Severn Barrage in discussion

Two major energy projects proposed for the Bristol Channel would have a massive impact on wildfowl and wildfowling, local shooters have warned. Plans for a Severn Barrage, which would use tidal energy to produce five per cent of the UK?s electricity, appear to be back on the table after a meeting between David Cameron and Labour MP and campaigner Peter Hain.

It was thought that the giant ?energy causeway? across the estuary would not get off the ground due to the project?s £34billion price tag, but Mr Hain said the meeting was ?more productive than might have been expected?.

Shooting Times understands that the Government will now consider the proposals, but only on the condition that they are funded solely by private investors.

However, environmental groups and wildfowlers raised concerns about a possible loss of 80 per cent of the area?s mudflats if the project went ahead.

Haydn Jones of the Gloucestershire Wildfowlers Association told Shooting Times that he was in dialogue with the Prime Minister about the potential destruction of an ?irreplaceable environment?. He said: ?We understand the need to create a sustainable future for our power generation, but the Government must work out where its baseload will come from ? whatever mechanisms it uses there will still be an energy requirement that can?t be provided by the existing technology they are pursuing.

The rest of this article appears in the 29th August issue of Shooting Times.

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The rest of this article appears in the 4th July issue of Shooting Times.