20th September 2008

The Green Party in the South West today published a statement of support for the "Stop the Barrage NOW" coalition.(1)

Photo: Greens discussing the barrage at a previous meeting

Ricky Knight, the party’s lead candidate for next year’s European election in the South West, said: ‘This barrage is an irresponsible and wasteful gamble. (2) Detailed reports have shown that this massively expensive and hugely damaging proposal cannot be justified on environmental or economic grounds – there are simply too many cheaper options for clean energy generation. (3) Other viable technologies would be more practical, more flexible, offer better value-for-money and damage the environment less.’ 

The Green Party’s policy of opposing the barrage plans is endorsed by many other groups, such as the World Wildlife Fund, the National Trust, the RSPB and Friends of the Earth.(4) 

Cllr Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor who has liased with the new campaign group, said: ‘Stroud Greens voted at their monthly meeting to send a supporting statement to this new campaign group 'Stop the Barrage NOW' to try and ensure that alternatives to the barrage are properly considered and more economic and environmentally sustainable options are developed as a matter or great urgency. The Green party recognised long before other political parties the very serious threat posed by climate change. Alone among political parties, the Green Party has pushed at European, national and local level for a massive programme of energy conservation, alongside a whole range of renewable energy options. For this reason, the Green Party of England and Wales voted in March 2007 in favour of developing renewable energies in the Severn Estuary.  But, at the same time, it rejected the proposals for a Severn Barrage – because the alternatives are far better.’   

Ricky Knight added: ‘I wholeheartedly endorse our support for Stop the Barrage NOW in their campaign to avoid this inefficient use of public money, time and effort.’

Contact Chloë Somers, Regional Press Officer, SW Green Party for more details:
07814 225519
press@southwest.greenparty.org.uk
http://southwest.greenparty.org.uk/news

Notes to editor:

(1) Stop the Barrage NOW is releasing an introductory press release about itself today. If you haven’t received a copy, but would like one, contact. For further information please contact either of the following: Katrina James or Debbie Smith, Stop the Barrage NOW press office (0117 317 8117 or katrina@stopthebarrage.org / debbie@stopthebarrage.org)

(2) Ricky Knight represents Newport ward on Barnstaple Town Council, North Devon.

(3) See, for example, the Frontier Economics report at http://www.frontier-economics.com/europe/en/news/579/

(4) See http://www.wwf.org.uk/news/n_0000005224.asp, http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/severn_barrage_lagoons.pdf,

http://www.foe.co.uk/cymru/cymraeg/severn_barrage_report.html,

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-news/w-regional_news/w-news-severn_barrage.htm and http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-171364 for further details.