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Plans for barrage 'hold water' Plans for barrage 'holding water'
(about 7 hours later)
Moves are under way to revive plans to generate electricity by harnessing the water of the Solway Firth.Moves are under way to revive plans to generate electricity by harnessing the water of the Solway Firth.
Agencies from both sides of the Border will meet in Dumfries to see if a project to build a barrage across the Solway might be feasible.Agencies from both sides of the Border will meet in Dumfries to see if a project to build a barrage across the Solway might be feasible.
The plans to build a barrage across the Solway from Annan, on the Dumfriesshire side, to Bowness, in Cumbria, were first drawn up in 1966.The plans to build a barrage across the Solway from Annan, on the Dumfriesshire side, to Bowness, in Cumbria, were first drawn up in 1966.
Demand for renewable energy has prompted the scheme to be revived. Renewable energy demands have prompted calls for the scheme to be revived.
Cumbrian businessman Nigel Catterson will try to persuade councils and enterprise agencies from both sides of the border that it is worth another look.Cumbrian businessman Nigel Catterson will try to persuade councils and enterprise agencies from both sides of the border that it is worth another look.
Mr Catterson said a barrage could generate 200 megawatts of electricity per hour - about the equivalent of 100 wind turbines. Mr Catterson said a barrage could generate as much power as about 100 wind turbines.
'Simple project'
He said: "I believe this project can happen. It would not be a complex engineering project to do.
"It would be a straightforward barrage more like a dam. I don't think the time and the date have been right for this in the past.
"Now, there are a raft of concerns about energy. This would be a simple project using simple technology."
One of the obstacles would be overcoming the ecological and environmental issues associated with damming one of the most important estuary habitats in the UK.One of the obstacles would be overcoming the ecological and environmental issues associated with damming one of the most important estuary habitats in the UK.
The proposal suggests setting up a community interest company to ensure that all profits would be reinvested in local communities.The proposal suggests setting up a community interest company to ensure that all profits would be reinvested in local communities.