Martin welcomes Severn power plan

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Apr 2009

Cheltenham MP and shadow environment minister Martin Horwood has welcomed a report published today (Thursday) by the Liberal Democrat Severn Forum that maps out a plan for maximising renewable energy from the Severn estuary while minimising unnecessary damage to the environment. The group of Lib Dem MPs and councillors - including Martin - was drawn from the Welsh and west country sides of the Severn and have been meeting in parallel to the government's review of Severn tidal power. The group's conclusions will be submitted to the government's own review, which is considering a variety of options: barrages of various different sizes, tidal lagoons that enclose areas of water rather than cutting across the estuary and more radical turbine-based technologies known as tidal reefs and fences.

Martin commented: 'I'm very pleased with the group's conclusions. I thought it was a tough challenge to meet the concerns of many conservationists and environmental groups while still harnessing the enormous power of the Severn tides for renewable energy. I think the group has come up with a really imaginative plan that will help us meet ambitious targets for renewable energy in a way that is sensitive to the environment. I'm worried that the government has already started ruling out important options far too soon and that they may end up going for an option that will cause quite unnecessary damage to local wildlife.'