Energy and Climate Change CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by the Avonmouth Community Centre Association (SEV56)

Avonmouth Community Centre is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Bristol Docks area. Our organisation works with local people supporting and delivering various activities, including activities that address local unemployment and health.

We are concerned that the Severn Barrage as proposed would have a detrimental effect on the local economy. After considering information both for and against the barrage, we believe that there would be a net loss of jobs in the area and no overall gain to the economy.

Livelihood in this area is significantly dependant on the fact that this area is a port. We believe that the barrage would damage future options in expanding the port’s capacity and curtail future growth. Should the barrage cause a disruption to the local economy, then we believe that community organisations like ourselves will consequently suffer. Higher unemployment, and generally less money coming into the area impacts upon the lives, health and wellbeing of local people. With less money to spend on activities based here, and increased challenges in tackling the subsequent issues leading on from a barrage’s negative economic impact, our work will be more difficult, and the organisation less sustainable.

We are also concerned about the impact of the turbine on wildlife and the disruption to the natural ecology of the area. We do not accept that it will increase tourism, and feel that the damage done to the environment may reduce this.

Our organisation is part of a network of local businesses and community organisations that is working hard to secure a more prosperous environment to live and work in, and to secure better outcomes for all. The barrage proposal, in our view, threatens this. We are keen to see investment in greener, sustainable technologies, and believe that there are alternative options that could be explored that do not harm the economy and ecology of the area in the way we believe the barrage will.

December 2012