EFFORTS to build a multi-billion pound tidal barrage across Morecambe Bay are being discussed at the highest levels of Government.

The long-touted barrage, which would allow drivers to travel from Barrow across the bay into Lancashire, has been on the lips of many for decades.

The Northern Tidal Power Gateways (NTPG) project is providing evidence to the Government on plans to build tidal range power barrages across Morecambe Bay and the Duddon estuaries that could generate emission free power for 100 years and protect fragile ecologies from the threat of rising sea levels.

The £10billion Morecambe Bay and Duddon project will deliver eight million megawatt hours of predictable, emission-free power annually, enough for two million homes, and create more than 12,000 new jobs.

The South Lakeland MP Tim Farron raised the concept of tidal power in the House of Commons.

Mr Farron and his neighbouring MP for Barrow and Furness Simon Fell are advocates of building a barrage across Morecambe Bay to generate renewable energy. 

Speaking during Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions in Parliament, Mr Farron said: “The United Kingdom has the highest tidal range on the planet after Canada, yet we use so very little of it, especially when we consider that a massive majority of the supply chain for marine, tidal and hydro is British. There are so many jobs to be made out of all this.

“Will the Minister look particularly at the potential for tidal energy in Morecambe Bay? I know that his honourable Friends on both sides of the bay agree with me on this, so will he meet with me and others who are in favour of getting green energy out of Morecambe Bay to see whether we can take this forward?"

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In response the Minister for Climate Graham Stuart said: "We are seeing these technologies mature, and the honourable gentleman is right: tidal and floating offshore wind projects have won CfDs for the first time ever, which will help these industries grow and strengthen Britain’s homegrown renewables sector.

“As he says, we have tremendous tidal potential in this country. He mentioned a site further north, but the Severn estuary has the second highest tidal range in the world, so if we can get it right, there is huge untapped potential.”

Mr Farron said: “To be honest, I’m pretty disappointed with the minister’s weak and non-committal reply."

When asked if his fellow Conservative party members are doing enough in government to push the scheme, Mr Fell said he had met with former Prime Minister Liz Truss and the new PM Rishi Sunak when he was chancellor.

"I met the PM (Liz Truss) last week and raised this, and will continue to do the same with the new Business Secretary," he said.

"The fact is we consider energy projects with a maximum of 50-year lifespans - tidal can run for a century at low cost and steady supply. I will continue to make the case for Morecambe Bay and other regions in the UK."