Critics who are already attacking plans for two tidal lagoons in Bridgwater Bay should wait for the designs to be unveiled, a Somerset MP has suggested.
Bridgwater and West Somerset Conservative MP Liddell-Grainger says ‘wild and premature’ claims are being made about the negative impacts of the projects even before firm plans have been drawn up.
Two lagoon schemes are being proposed, one off Weston-super-mare and the other sited off the West Somerset coast with landfall at Minehead.
They could harness the power of the world’s second highest tidal range to generate electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes. But discussions about siting, design and funding are still at a very early stage.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said that, however, had not stopped a chorus of criticism starting up.
“There have been complaints ranging from the anglers claiming that fish will get chopped up in the turbines to the assertion that the strike price will be excessively high,” he said.
“But the fact is it is far too premature to be making wild claims like this. We don’t even have a detailed design for the lagoons yet; we have no accurate idea of the costs; and we don’t have any impact studies to hand. So none of these issues can be sensibly discussed.
“We do need a mature, balanced debate on the schemes but construction could be ten years off. That said all the normal planning processes will be gone through and there will be plenty of opportunity for individuals and groups to put their views forward.”
Mr Liddell-Grainger said despite the protests many of his constituents were already welcoming proposals for a barrage at Minehead.
“The people there have made it clear they would welcome the investment, the employment and training opportunities, and the undoubted attraction the lagoon would represent for tourists – and these are all issues which need to be factored in to any cost benefit analysis,” he said.
“But as with the negative opinions it is far too early to be making a judgement until we see the details of what is proposed.”