Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Societal Impacts of
the Wyre Barrage
Students: Thomas Hendrick and Aurelie Ballester
Supervisor: Dr George A Aggidis
4 February 2011
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Overview
• Introduction
• Impacts on employment
• Impacts on leisure
• Impacts on tourism
• Impacts on property values
• Conclusions
La Rance tidal barrage
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Introduction
Southern location
Central location
Northern location
New northern location
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
New Northern Location
4
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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.
5
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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.
New northern location
6
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
• 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
edwud.com
8
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Leisure/recreational activities
• Nature and cultured
activities
– bird watching
– visitor centre
• Promotion of the area
bbc.co.uk
telegraph.co.uk
9
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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?
10
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Leisure/recreational
• The estuary would be especially good for
leisure boating including:
-Power boating
-Water Skiing
-Jet Skiing
11
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Tourism
• Contribution of barrage in
generating income from tourism:
£8 Million
12
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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?
14
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Transport
• 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
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Transport
• 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.
16
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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.
17
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Property Value
18
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Property Values
• Property
along the
dock will
continue to
see the
dock
instead of
the
estuary.
19
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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.
20
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Property Values
• Biggest benefactor may
be upstream
communities who
benefit from flood
protection.
21
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Conclusion
• Increased employment:
£9.3M
• Increased property values:
£8 M
• Increased trading to local economy:
£1 M
• Contribution to new developments:
£8 M
• Total increase to local economy:
£26.3 M
22
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
Societal impacts of the Wyre
barrage
Thank You
Student: Thomas Hendrick and Aurelie Ballester
Supervisor: Dr George A Aggidis
4 February 2011
Lancaster University
Renewable Energy Group
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/
25