Europe’s largest construction project on the edge of the Severn Estuary will have significant impact on marine and migratory fish including already vulnerable Atlantic salmon, twaite shad and European eel over its lifetime. The impacts of this will be felt widely, affecting Welsh rivers, River Severn, the Bristol Avon, Somerset Levels and across the Celtic Sea. Life in the whole of the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel could be dramatically affected over the next few decades according to a group of environmental organisations (eNGO’s).
England has legally binding targets for nature set out in the UK Environment Act and UK Environmental Improvement Plan. Wales has a commitment to maintain and restore resilient ecosystems, such as the Severn Estuary, in the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. Somerset has ambitious plans for the environment set out in the Natural Environment section of the Climate Strategy, and emerging Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Huge investment has already been made improving the environment of the Bristol Avon, and the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership has recently published its Fish Recovery Strategy.
HPC is key to the UK Government’s energy strategy for the UK but, due to changes to the design, will undermine achievement of those targets.