Newport West AM Rosemary Butler has welcomed moves by UK Government ministers to highlight the proposed Severn Barrage scheme as a way of combating floods in areas like Newport.

After the recent floods in Gloucester, local MP Parmjit Dhanda - who's also the Westminster Communities Minister- said that he wanted the possible flood prevention benefits of a Severn Barrage to be examined very closely.The case for a Barrage is currently being looked at by the Sustainable Development Commission, and Mr Dhanda wants them to include the flood prevention issue in their report. He has asked energy minister Malcolm Wicks to make sure that this happens.

Rosemary Butler says:

"I am very pleased that this aspect of the Severn Barrage is being taken so seriously by the UK Government. I have been saying for some time that as well as providing 5% or so of the UK's electricity, a barrage would help enormously in the years ahead if sea levels begin to rise.

"All the pro-barrage experts that I've spoken to agree that the coastline around Newport and other parts of the estuary would receive substantial protection, and wouldn't need the constant renewal of more localised sea defences."

The Severn Barrage scheme is currently part of the UK government's energy review and is backed by First Minister Rhodri Morgan, and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain. It would run from Lavernock Point near Cardiff to Brean Down near Weston Super Mare. It would cost £15bn and could also include a road link.

Friday, August 3