YP Letters: Forgotten energy scheme could tame Humber

From: John Goodman, Cottingham.
Should the river Humber be made non-tidal?Should the river Humber be made non-tidal?
Should the river Humber be made non-tidal?

IN early January, I wrote to this newspaper supporting the Rural Affairs Committee of MPs in their report that the Environment Agency (EA) should be stripped of its flood defence duties.

One of the reasons was the EA’s policy of raising the 240km of flood banks around the Humber Estuary, at a cost already over £1bn. The recent tidal surge highlighted how deeply flawed is this policy. If the wind had turned in to the east, the surge would have caused severe flooding.

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As a result of my letter in the Press, a member of the public gave me a 1960s report on a Humber Barrier Hydro Electric Scheme, that had, at that time, the support of commerce and shipping leaders. The Swansea Bay tidal lagoon scheme, at a cost of £1.3bn, has also received new support. Its only benefit is the production of electricity.

Ninety-four per cent of the silt in the Humber comes from the sea, a barrier would exclude this silt. The Humber is said to be the second most dangerous navigable river in the world. Deep navigation channels from locks in the barrier for the full length of the Humber could turn it into one of the safest in the world, and could be a major boost to the Northern Powerhouse.