To the dismay of environmental campaigners, the government has agreed to give its backing to a multi-million pound feasibility study into the construction of a controversial barrage across the Severn estuary. The barrage will form part of a project to harness the tidal power of the Severn river to generate 5% of the UK⿿s electricity requirements. The Severn estuary is home to a variety of wildlife and provides feeding grounds for around 65,000 birds in winter. The Business and Enterprise Secretary John Hutton called the project ⿿truly visionary⿿ as he announced the feasibility study at the Labour party⿿s conference in Bournemouth. He went on to say: ⿿The Government Gordon Brown leads will not be among those who say they want to tackle global warming by moving to low carbon energy sources but then oppose every opportunity to do so.⿿ Environmentalists are not against the use of the Severn estuary to generate electricity, all they are asking the government to do is to look at the other options available which are less harmful to the local wildlife.
