Will the sea floor occupied by the windfarms also be developed as marine habitats? Clearly, as fishing is not permitted there will this area count as a MCZ? Any barrage/tidal energy scheme should ideally incorporate a (major) road. Not only will this create industry opportunities in Dumfries and Galloway but, extended down to and across Morecambe Bay will open up the Fylde Coast similarly. Jim Mitchell

At last after 2 weeks I have (I think) mastered the google calendar sync... I have lost though my own grandchildrens' birth dates in my own calendar ..... umm - up a ladder down a snake

Cumbria – The Energy Coast


On Friday I discovered a piece of Cumbria where you cannot see a windmill. It's in a dip in the road surrounded by high hedges. The road is a lane really between Pica and Rowrah (more on pronunciation of these place names later*).
It has just struck me that on the drive down the coast from Carlisle to Whitehaven there isn't a place (apart from the Rowrah Pica interchange) where windmills are not visible.

I'm all in favour of energy from the wind so I suppose I will just have to put up with the high visual impact. I quite like the look of windmills though, there's something quite pleasing about them compared to a coal fired power station or a nuclear one for that matter. In fact compared to the mining scars of the villages that are Rowrah and Pica they are positively beautiful.

*Pica – pronounced: PIE – KUH

Rowrah - pronounced: ROW (as in having an argument – not Boat) – RUH

I recently discovered that the PICA environs has decoy buildings dating back to the 2nd World War designed to trick enemy bombers in to not dropping their loads on Workington. Pity!

Infrastructure change ?will fast-track planning? - Times Online

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Frequently Asked Question 2: Is it a barrage?
Answer: We don't think so.
A barrage used as a total containment of the estuary from the line Annan to Bowness would be detrimental and not acceptable. There is a tendency to use the word 'barrage' in a generic way thus confusing and distracting everybody from finding a renewable energy solution based on the harnessing of the tides.

The ultimate solution is most likely to be a partial barrage or fence or reef - commonly called low-head devices, or devices that sit in the tidal stream.

All of this will be brought out in the technical feasibility stage.

Question 1: What is the Time Scale?

Answer: The intended time line is as follows

• June – November 2009: Technical feasibility study .
  Identify and make initial approaches to potential funding, development and technology partners.
  Seek opportunities for development funding.
  Ongoing engagement with stakeholders
  
• 2010 to 2013: If the 1st Technical Feasibility study allows, move to a Full Feasibility Study-
  Full range of environmental, social and economic impact studies undertaken
  Technology and development funding streams identified and secured. Contractors / Developers identified and contracts drawn up.
  Design and outline planning for all project aspects
  Project funding streams identified and agreed
  Extensive stakeholder engagement
  Resource, supply chain identification
  New regional branding strategy explored and developed
  Grid connection agreement
  Crown Estate and relevant land owner provisional agreements
  Provisional development vehicle and structure formalised
  Connectivity issues identified and resolved
  Special interest stakeholder groups formed to feed into development
  
• 2013 to 2014:  If previous stage is positive go to Planning
  Planning and consents sought. CPO orders. Agreements signed
  Community and Interest Groups feed in
  Supply chain geared up
  Recruitment of necessary construction personnel
  
• 2014 to 2016: Construction
  Project build
  Connectivity links made
  Regional branding and promotion
  
• 2016 to 2017: Commissioning
  
  

Q) Has anyone carried out a study to discover what possible impact rising sea levels in the next 100 years will have on the tidal flow around the British Isles. Would the tidal ebb and flow be more aggressive than it is a present e.g. if the sea level were to rise by 1m, would sea level at low tide and high tide both be 1m higher than they are now or will the moon have a bigger impact on more water and speed things up a bit?
A) - from Prof Richard Burrows of Liverpool Uni:
Water levels fluctuate over the same range but about the new water level in the coastal waters.
There are likely to be further changes in the estuaries where the tide becomes asymmetric; Our computational studies show only a very small change in tidal magnitudes around the coast from a ~0.8m increase in sea levels