Energy and Climate Change CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Robbee Smole (SEV 73)
Robbee Smole facilitates SevernNet, an organisation which brings together the businesses and communities from Royal Portbury Dock through Avonmouth, Severnside to Western Approach Industrial Park, crossing the boundaries of North Somerset, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire.
Formed from an initiative which began in 2009, SevernNet’s focus is on supporting sustainable growth and resource effectiveness across the area, and building on the area’s strengths.
Robbee Smole has undertaken extensive research over a number of years into the sustainable development of port industrial areas in The Netherlands, UK and elsewhere. This highlights the importance of the port and its role as a hub attracting other businesses and industries into an attractive and economically vibrant agglomeration. The Bristol Port area in particular has developing strengths and opportunities which are dependant upon the port as a focal point.
Robbee Smole has considerable concern that the development of the barrage would have a damaging impact on both the environment and economy and is not a sustainable solution.
There would be no overall gain for the economy as the temporary economic gain from the construction of the barrage is balanced by the loss from closure of the ports at Bristol and Sharpness and associated businesses.
The majority of the capital expenditure would leak outside Wales and the South West as those areas would not be able to supply all the materials, caissons, machinery and man-power for the project.
The barrage would cause as a minimum a loss of 900 jobs in ports in the operating phase whilst creating around 1,000 operational jobs—a net gain of only 100 jobs.
The fishing industry of the Estuary will collapse in Wales and the South West with a loss of 60 jobs.
An estimated 180 jobs would be lost in the nationally strategically important marine aggregates industry. The cost of construction projects particularly in the North West and South Wales would rise as they are particularly dependent on marine-dredged sand from the Estuary.
The DECC Study estimated that the barrage could create 60 tourism jobs. However this would be far outweighed by the loss of the attractiveness of the Estuary, loss of ornithological and angling tourism and the damage to marinas.
There are alternative options to the barrage which could deliver sustainable energy without such a negative impact upon the existing and developing economy.
The risks of going ahead with the barrage as proposed are simply too great and alternative solutions should be recommended.
December 2012