BARRAGE - WHITE ELEPHANT OR WHITE CATTLE?

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Cider Boys
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I went for a walk this afternoon along Brean Down when I came across a small herd of White Park Cattle. I really enjoy initiatives that preserve our agricultural heritage and was pleasantly surprised to see them. In the distance you can just see the island of Steep Holm and to the right you may just make out Flat Holm. Steep Holm is an English Island whilst Flat Holm is a Welsh island. It is across this stretch of water that the proposed Barrage is to be built. (Why it is referred to as the Severn Barrage must be due to centuries ago when the sea was called the Severn Sea since it is miles away from the River Severn, it for many years has been known as the Bristol Channel.) It is a great pity that this remaining piece of natural wilderness will be under concrete to provide power for our ever increasing population.

Barney
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Geoff
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Great pictures!
I wish somebody would tell me if the energy we use contributes to Global Warming. If it has a significant effect most of the renewable solutions are pointless (apart from conserving fossil fuels) and only not using energy is really worthwhile.
It would be better to barrage the Thames and let the water build up on the inside.
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Johnboy
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Hi Barney,
As pointed out by Allan some time back that tidal generators could be used and gather as much benefit without totally disrupting the whole of the estuary and the Severn Basin. These generators gather power on the flow and the ebb but a barrage is nowhere near efficient and as far as I have been able to find out only produce one way. At that time I looked into it and if my memory serves me there are 54 such sights around our coast where these generators could be employed.
If we are to expect days in the future like 'Deluge Friday' I simply wonder what effect a barrage will have in time of great flood on the land alongside the Severn.
I am very much against this barrage because I think that there is an alternative which is better value of the tax payers money. The barrage is going to cost an absolute fortune and they are very unsure of the final benefit. I feel that with the initial construction and the maintenance costs it is something that will be forever a millstone round the nations neck.
JB.
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