Dodds: ‘Swansea Tidal Lagoon is a vital part of our post-Covid recovery’

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds has called for the UK Government to honour their previous commitment to support the Swansea Tidal Lagoon.

The UK Government and Swansea Council today stated that the Developers behind the project no longer have planning permission, following a series of delays and roadblocks.

The project was set to go ahead back in 2018, with the UK and Welsh Governments, along with private investors, collaborating to fund the £1.3bn scheme. However, the UK Government pulled out late in the process, questioning the projects value for money.

Since then there have been many attempts to keep the project moving, including the formation of a new company called ‘Tidal Power’. Sadly, none of these moves have allowed the project to proceed.

Now the Welsh Lib Dems are calling for the UK Government to get behind the scheme once more, citing it as a key part of their plans for a post-Covid green recovery.

Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said:

“We have a chance to make Wales a world leader in green and renewable tidal power. Yet sadly, due to the Conservatives, we’re now back at square one.

“Boris Johnson talks a lot about ‘levelling up Wales’, but when it comes to putting his money where his mouth is, we see nothing but inaction and posturing. He would rather bang on about building another big and polluting road than actually delivering on revolutionary green energy projects like the Swansea Lagoon.

“We are in the midst of a climate emergency, we need be to investing in the sustainable technologies of the future. The Swansea Tidal Lagoon is a vital part of our post-Covid recovery – by building it we can power a green recovery and create many well-paid, high-skilled jobs.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats have backed the Lagoon project from the very beginning and will continue to champion green energy projects across Wales. The Conservatives’ need to honour their previous commitment to fund the Lagoon so we can get on with the project.”