Severn barrage

[Hatstand]

His brother occasionally performed under the name "Easy Pickens"  :

 

[whitelackington]

back on the governments agenda

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7013068.stm

"Senior politicians in Wales and Westminster say a ?15bn plan to build a barrage across the Severn Estuary could help solve the growing energy crisis.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain have backed plans for a barrage over the Bristol Channel. "

Not sure Peter Hain will still be there to push this through
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7188461.stm

The Police are wanting to grill him.

Peter Hain slings his grubby hook
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7206812.stm

 

[gus horsley]

I was talking to the head honcho at Slimbridge WWT at the weekend about the barrage.  He was pretty dismissive about it - said that it was the umpteenth time the idea had been put forward and he suspected that the two year consultation would prove that, yet again, it was unviable. 

 

[whitelackington]

I was talking to the head honcho at Slimbridge WWT at the weekend about the barrage.  He was pretty dismissive about it - said that it was the umpteenth time the idea had been put forward and he suspected that the two year consultation would prove that, yet again, it was unviable. 

Hello Gus,
just thought I'd pop over and say hello.
By the way have "they" built it yet?

 

[gus horsley]

Hello Gus,
just thought I'd pop over and say hello.
By the way have "they" built it yet?

Sorry, been away on holiday for a couple of weeks.  Built what?  The barrage?  Can't say I noticed it on the way down the motorway.  Are "they" Poles who are going to construct it overnight but leave the grouting for a dry weekend?

 

[whitelackington]

It is back on the government's agenda.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7850609.stm

Five projects have been selected from 10 examined over the last six months.

Among these is a 10-mile barrage proposal from Lavernock Point, Vale of Glamorgan, to Somerset, which has come under fire from environmental groups.

 

[ChrisJC]

...which has come under fire from environmental groups.

That sort of statement always amuses me. Do these eejits understand that doing nothing is not an option? They seem to be anti any kind of anti-global-warming measures. So they must be pro global warming.... Like that will help the environment!

Chris.

 

[graham]

That sort of statement always amuses me. Do these eejits understand that doing nothing is not an option? They seem to be anti any kind of anti-global-warming measures. So they must be pro global warming.... Like that will help the environment!

Chris.

Do you not thing it important that what is done is the right thing?

 

[Elaine]

I think that the right thing is never going to be possible. Compromise is much more important.

 

[graham]

I think that the right thing is never going to be possible. Compromise is much more important.

But compromise will only happen if all sides of the argument are heard, n'est ce pas?

 

[ChrisJC]

Yes but greeny-beardy-weirdy types are very ideological, possibly radically so. Therefore any sort of compromise is out of the question.

Couple that with Joe Publics love of the past (i.e. nothing must be built, demolished, grown or cut down), and we have a bit of an impasse.

Chris.

 

[graham]

"I'm right, therefore the other lot must be ideological! If only they'd compromise and do it my way."

 

[Elaine]

That is why both sides have to come to some sort of compromise. At the moment everything seems to be shelved because 'someone' objects. It is quite right that people should not be railroaded over and consultations should be made to see whether a project is viable or not. But it seems that all that happens is most things are rejected by NIMBY's or environmentalists.
This in itself is understandable, but we always seem to come to the same stalemate and carry on burning fossil fuels because it means we all still have a nice view from our front room window, and the lesser spotted yellow wag finches are still alive and hopping around.

 

[gus horsley]

I was hoping to see a lesser spotted yellow wag finch on my way up the M5 before they become extinct.

Let's get some nuclear power stations built....pronto!  They don't affect wildlife much except that gulls like the warmer water, they don't put much into the atmosphere, and the waste can now be safely disposed of.  What's the problem?

(Stands back and waits for the backlash).

 

[whitelackington]

I was hoping to see a lesser spotted yellow wag finch on my way up the M5 before they become extinct.

Let's get some nuclear power stations built....pronto!  They don't affect wildlife much except that gulls like the warmer water, they don't put much into the atmosphere, and the waste can now be safely disposed of.  What's the problem?

(Stands back and waits for the backlash).

Hello Gus, haven't you heard, after half a century
"they" still do not know what to do with the radioactive waste.
Perhaps you'd like it tipped down a Cornish Shaft?

 

[Peter Burgess]

I was hoping to see a lesser spotted yellow wag finch on my way up the M5 before they become extinct.

Let's get some nuclear power stations built....pronto!  They don't affect wildlife much except that gulls like the warmer water, they don't put much into the atmosphere, and the waste can now be safely disposed of.  What's the problem?

(Stands back and waits for the backlash).

Hello Gus, haven't you heard, after half a century
"they" still do not know what to do with the radioactive waste.
Perhaps you'd like it tipped down a Cornish Shaft?

They know exactly what to do with it but the NIMBY'S won't let them do it.

 

[ChrisJC]

Hello Gus, haven't you heard, after half a century
"they" still do not know what to do with the radioactive waste.
Perhaps you'd like it tipped down a Cornish Shaft?

Ah, but they do. It's a political problem, not a practical one.

Chris.

 

[rhychydwr1]

I would like a barrage from Barry to Minehead with a 4 lane motorway on top.  Ideal for caving in North Devon.  Also I would like a trip to Bampfylde Mine at North Molton to retrieve Bertie.

 

[kay]

This in itself is understandable, but we always seem to come to the same stalemate and carry on burning fossil fuels because it means we all still have a nice view from our front room window, and the lesser spotted yellow wag finches are still alive and hopping around.

But you always will have a nice view, because it's your job. It's people like me, stuck in a town because that's where most employment is, who are desperately trying to preserve what few nice views we still have. (Or I could move into a village, complain about the manure smells and occupy a house that is needed by someone whose job actually is in the country).

This isn't aimed personally at you, just musing on why so many environmentalists seem to be 'townies'.

Interesting also how our perceptions have changed - writers not so many centuries ago viewed the Lake District with horror, as a wild unproductive place. Beauty was in productivity and well farmed land. Nor do we have the enthusiasm of earlier generations for the latest in industrial innovation. Now we value the past far more.

 

[whitelackington]

It is back on the government's agenda.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7850609.stm

Five projects have been selected from 10 examined over the last six months.

Among these is a 10-mile barrage proposal from Lavernock Point, Vale of Glamorgan, to Somerset, which has come under fire from environmental groups.

I think we should get on with this barrage and forget about poisonous nuclear power.