Lancaster University Renewable Energy Group Students: Thomas Hendrick and Aurelie Ballester Supervisor: Dr George A Aggidis 4 February 2011 Societal Impacts.

Lancaster University Renewable Energy Group

Students: Thomas Hendrick and Aurelie Ballester

Supervisor: Dr George A Aggidis

4 February 2011

Societal Impacts of the Wyre Barrage


Overview

• Introduction

• Impacts on employment

• Impacts on leisure

• Impacts on tourism

• Impacts on property values

• Conclusions

La Rance tidal barrage


Introduction

Central locationCentral location

Northern locationNorthern location New northern locationNew northern location

Southern locationSouthern location


New Northern Location

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Industry/Employment

• Local community benefits:• Reducing unemployment– Short-term: employment of construction workers from

both counties : about 600 people.– Construction formations could be planned previously to

have a local work force.– 17 people employed to operate on the barrage.– Medium- and long-term employment opportunity in

tourism related activities.

• Increase community friendship– Decrease criminality in Fleetwood.– Reduce tension between communities.

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Industry/Employment

• Local community conflicts– New uses of land, remediation costs.– Only construction sector and services will be

increase in the first time.– Conflicts between work force and local people

during the barrage construction.– Increase in traffic, noise and congestion.– Degradation of existing roads.

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New northern locationNew northern location


A community project

• Wyre barrage will be led by a committee of locally elected people.– Local communities will benefit from all its outcomes.

• Wyre barrage could...– Be used as a flooding protection.– Facilitate implementation of new development

policies.– Improve infrastructure qualities and services.– Promote the use of renewable energy.– Be used in an educational purpose.– Improve the friendliness between the communities.

7


Leisure/recreational activities

• Freshwater activities– new hot spot for

yachting, jet skiing and water skiing.

– fishing, walking, cycling, bathing, bait digging, mussel gathering, sailing, boat and shore angling, and shrimp push netting

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edwud.com


Leisure/recreational activities

• Nature and cultured activities– bird watching– visitor centre

• Promotion of the area

9bbc.co.uktelegraph.co.uk


Leisure/recreational

• Local community conflicts:– Disturbances generated by

tourists flow.– Feeling of invasion.– Location of water based

resort.– Modification of the landscape.– Impacts of leisure activities

on the Environment.– What will be the main use of

the estuary?

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Leisure/recreational

• The estuary would be especially good for leisure boating including:

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-Power boating -Water Skiing -Jet Skiing


Tourism

• Contribution of barrage in generating income from tourism: 12

£8 Million


Tourism

• It is believed that building the barrage would help make the area more attractive to tourists

• To see the barrage itself and Visitors Centre

• To participate in leisure craft activities in the estuary

• Increase in number of day trips

• Develop image and distinguish Fleetwood from Blackpool


Transport

• The issues regarding transport are:– The decision to build a road across the

barrage.

– How such a road would influence the traffic patterns on both communities?

– Are there benefits/drawbacks to building a road?

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• With road– Reduce travel time

between Fleetwood to Knott End from 30 minutes to a few.

– Increase ability of Fleetwood residents to access Lancaster, Morecambe.

– Estimate 10,300 trips across the road each year.

15

Transport


Transport

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• Without road– Preserve Knott End

separation.– No need to build

new roads across either the golf course, or through Knott End High Street.

– Ability to reduce traffic congestion in Fleetwood and Knott End.


Transport

• Opposition to a road is very strong in Knott End. It is so strong, that despite all the other benefits of building a tidal barrage, residents would vigorously oppose it.

• Therefore it seems most prudent to build a barrage without a road, but design the structure so that one day a road could be placed on top.

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Property Value

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Property Values

• Property along the dock will continue to see the dock instead of the estuary.

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Property Values

• Generally it is expected Fleetwood property values would stay the same or increase slightly.

• Any increase would come from increased demand due to growth, and economic revitalization of the area.

• Property driven growth about £8 million.

• Value of berths in the marine would increase. Potentially double with the northern location, and by 25% for the southern location.

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Property Values

• Biggest benefactor may be upstream communities who benefit from flood protection.

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Conclusion

• Increased employment:

• Increased property values:

• Increased trading to local economy:

• Contribution to new developments:

• Total increase to local economy:22

£9.3M

£8 M

£1 M

£8 M

£26.3 M


Conclusion

• Economic growth due to increase in tourism/leisure.

• Promoting Fleetwood culture heritage and identity.

• Build the barrage without a road.

• Increase property values all around the estuary.

• Provide reliable flood defence.

• Improve community relations.23


Student: Thomas Hendrick and Aurelie Ballester

Supervisor: Dr George A Aggidis

4 February 2011

Societal impacts of the Wyre barrage

Thank You


Bibliography

• (1991). River Wyre Preliminary Feasibility Study: Tidal Energy Barrage and Road Crossing Final Report. D. o. Energy, Lancashire City Council: 258-310.

• (2007). Turning the Tide, Tidal Power in the UK, Sustainable Development Commission

• Craig, J., H. Rudd, et al. (2007). Seven UK Tidal Energy Case Studies, Sustainable Development Commission: 125-138.

• Areal maps courtesy Google Maps

• Images courtesy Microsoft Word clip art.

• http://www.lifeinfleetwood.co.uk/2008/04/23/victoria-street-by-bill-curtis/

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Lancaster University Renewable Energy Group Students: Thomas Hendrick and Aurelie Ballester Supervisor: Dr George A Aggidis 4 February 2011 Societal Impacts.

Documents

use of renewable energy

wyre barrage slide

new northern location

barrage construction

rance tidal barrage

tourism impacts

location of water

impacts of leisure activities