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

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 Central location Northern location New northern location Southern 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. 6 New northern location

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

Lancaster University Renewable Energy Group 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 8 edwud.com

Lancaster University Renewable Energy Group Leisure/recreational activities Nature and cultured activities –bird watching –visitor centre Promotion of the area 9 bbc.co.uk telegraph.co.uk

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: 11 -Power boating -Water Skiing -Jet Skiing

Lancaster University Renewable Energy Group Tourism Contribution of barrage in generating income from tourism: 12 £8 Million

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 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

Lancaster University Renewable Energy Group Transport 16 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.

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: 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

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 Student: Thomas Hendrick and Aurelie Ballester Supervisor: Dr George A Aggidis 4 February 2011 Societal impacts of the Wyre barrage Thank You

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: (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: Areal maps courtesy Google Maps Images courtesy Microsoft Word clip art. 25