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Why no Swansea Tidal Lagoon?

(43 Posts)
Ilovecheese Fri 29-Jun-18 10:49:14

Why has the Government refused the go ahead for a tidal lagoon in Swansea?
We could have been world leaders in this new technology, the first of its kind.
Is renewable energy somehow not "macho" enough for this Government, or do they just prefer to keep the big energy companies happy.

petra Fri 29-Jun-18 12:39:22

I'm with you completely on this one. Absolute madness not to go ahead.

mostlyharmless Fri 29-Jun-18 12:50:31

Very disappointing that the government does not want to invest in this renewable energy project.
It’s an innovative project and could provide a boost to the South Wales economy as well as making the U.K. a leader in this new technology.
Instead they’ve pledged more money for nuclear research.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44634580

varian Fri 29-Jun-18 14:15:08

I expect this very worthwhile project has been cancelled because we have to pay the brexit bill . If there was ever such a thing as the "brexit bonus" this is the sort of project which could have been funded, but even the government now realises that if we go ahead with leaving the EU we will be a much poorer country.

maryeliza54 Fri 29-Jun-18 14:44:55

This sends a very clear message as to the governments commitment both to climate change and to wanting to help the Welsh economy. I’m surprised that there hadn’t been more criticism of this decision on GN by Welsh members but as there’s only the Govetnment to blame, there’s no wish to do this clearly ?

yggdrasil Fri 29-Jun-18 14:47:05

It's not in London, is all.

Anniebach Fri 29-Jun-18 14:47:06

What rubbish Maryeliza

maryeliza54 Fri 29-Jun-18 14:51:01

What rubbish would that be ab - have I missed your criticism of this cancellation or are you in favour of it? Just posting ‘what rubbish’ hadn’t exactly clarified your stance on this has it?

Anniebach Fri 29-Jun-18 14:57:37

My reply was to your first post Maryeliza, such concern for Wales, so touching - not. A reason to attack posters with a sly dig. There is very interest in Welsh politics on this forum.

Wheniwasyourage Fri 29-Jun-18 14:58:44

What a shame. It seems like such a good idea and would bring tourism benefits as well as the clean energy. We always miss out on these new ideas - we should have been way out ahead with tidal power and wave power by now. sad

I think the nuclear lobby and the fracking interests are working away behind the scenes - yes, Ineos, I'm talking to you!

maryeliza54 Fri 29-Jun-18 15:10:17

Still not saying what you think of the cancellation ab. As for the interest in Welsh politics or not, one of the reasons that this cancellation matters is that it demonstrates the Governments lack of commitment to addressing climate change and that affects all of us and also it demonstrates their total lack of commitment to anywhere that isn’t the South East. So it’s a clear statement of how little it cares about those parts of the UK that need desperately to have investment for regeneration and growth. Remember the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ hahahahaha

Anniebach Fri 29-Jun-18 15:14:22

Why the sneer at some posters Maryeliza, uncalled for.

Ilovecheese Fri 29-Jun-18 17:53:06

I did hesitate a bit before starting this thread because I thought someone from Wales might want to start one, and didn't want to "muscle in " as it were,but I think this is a blow for the whole of Britain. We could have been at the start of new technology, forged links with other countries (which we need to do now more than ever) who would want to consult us when starting their own tidal projects.

Now we are going to be left behind, and if or when it does go ahead, will probably be built by the Chinese, who will charge an exorbitant price, as with nuclear energy.

They just seem to be so against any form of renewable energy, from the minute the coalition started and they refused to lend money to Sheffield Forgemasters to built wind turbines. Renewable energy is going down in price all the time and we should be grabbing this opportunity with both hands.

Anniebach Fri 29-Jun-18 18:00:35

We were really hopeful Ilove,

Panache Fri 29-Jun-18 18:09:22

The plain and simple answer from probably the majority of people living in Wales is that we are sick and tired of the Government not going ahead with this vast new project, for which we had such high hopes.
It would have energised our economy in a multitude of ways overall,whilst as you have already said, what a first for Wales in the face of advancing technology............and of course overall for Great Britain.
It is an utter disgrace and bitter loss.

paddyann Fri 29-Jun-18 18:44:07

The Tory government aren't interested in renewable energy ...they want to go the nuclear route.They have consistently interfered and cut funding for Scottish renewables over the past few years.Thats Scottish renewable energy that has for several months produced enough power to run Scotland and have some left over.

Thats devolution for you...power given is power retained so we dont have the final say in ...well just about anything.
Seems Wales is next on the chopping block for cuts .Lets hope their government will put up a fight like we have .

Anniebach Fri 29-Jun-18 19:29:07

Paddyann, you cannot compare Wales with Scotland, you have the SNP running the country, Wales has a Welsh Labour led government, not helped by divisions in the party caused by the election of the labour leader.

lucyinthesky Fri 29-Jun-18 19:30:13

It's an infuriating decision. In the meantime Heathrow expansion is voted through.

The saddest thing is that if we'd all voted to Remain the funds would have been forthcoming from Europe. Wales, Cornwall and poorer parts of northern England will continue to lose out as a result.

NfkDumpling Fri 29-Jun-18 19:33:48

Is there a right of appeal? Can the Welsh Assembly invite the Chinese in to build it?(!). There must be a way around this, it’s blatant discrimination. Not sure how, but I’m sure it is!

Ilovecheese Fri 29-Jun-18 19:34:23

It is the Conservative government who have stopped this. Absolutely nothing to do with the Labour party.

Anniebach Fri 29-Jun-18 19:37:41

And I didn’t say it was, I was explaining to Paddyann that Wales does not have the same independence as Scotland, Wales has a labour led government, this is not the same as a Labour government, pointless comparing the two countries.

Anniebach Fri 29-Jun-18 19:42:04

Nfk, all I have heard so far - this is not the end,

but we lose Carwyn as leader in the Autumn so who knows what then , there is the battle of changing the voting system first. Members v UNITE, AM’s divided

grannysyb Fri 29-Jun-18 21:57:52

Really stupid decision, it would have money well spent, they're only interested in things like HS2 and Heathrow. The Swansea lagoon would be far more use.

NfkDumpling Sat 30-Jun-18 08:21:34

I wonder if the decision would have been the same if the lagoon was in the Thames estuary! (I’m not getting at those who live in the London area - someone has to!)

MaizieD Sat 30-Jun-18 10:52:57

Astonished at such a short sighted decision from a government that has just voted to approve the hugely polluting/environmentally destructive third runway at Heathrow (which twitteratti seem to think is unlikely to get built because ....Brexit)