Plans unveiled for £250million tidal barrier near Cardross

Jan 1 2010 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

A RADICAL plan has been unveiled to create a £250 million tidal barrier across the Clyde at Ardmore near Cardross.

Talks are set to take place between the designers and the Scottish Government over the scheme to revolutionise flood defences.

A road and rail bridge possibly linking Dumbarton and Port Glasgow would also be built, easing traffic congestion on the Erskine Bridge.

Additional flood defences for Helensburgh would also be created under the plan proposed by experts at Strathclyde University.

The project, the brainchild of marine architect Robert McNair and Colin MacFarlane, emeritus professor of engineering at the university, would produce enough electricity to power every home in Glasgow.

Commentators say it would also be a major boost to the economy of West Dunbartonshire.

The Scottish Government is set to open discussions on the scheme which its creators say would help Scotland achieve its renewable energy targets and tackle flooding.

It would also allow more ships to pass up and down the Clyde as water depths could be controlled.

Energy Minister Jim Mather is said to be keen to meet with the engineers to discuss their plans in more detail.

The scheme would generate around 200GWH per year with output able to be stored relatively easily.

It would also solve the increasing problem of flooding and could save millions of pounds in the longterm by preventing damage to property.