A scheme to build a causeway from Brean to Lavernock in Wales is back on the drawing board. With the final investment decision on Hinkley C now put back months the decade long debate about a tidal barrage to harness the power of the tides Is once again on the agenda.

The Severn Lake organisation has taken on the project to promoted the scheme and attract Government backing. Gareth Woodham is the man driving the idea which began a decade ago as a plan to produce hydroelectricity from the sea.

“It was a bit of wheeze,” he said, “but in 2006 nothing had happened since 2002 and I decided to pay £500 and put in a planning application. It led to a huge amount of interest with radio, newspaper and television interviews and features about the idea. Ten years has gone and since then we’ve got solutions to the turbines that would be used and worked out how the free flow shipping channels would operate.”

The causeway would not carry a road or a railway but be entirely constructed for the purpose of trapping the tides and driving the twice daily flow of water to power electricity turbines. Along the way would be sluice gates, embankments and a system to allow ships to pass through. It would bisect the islands of Flatholm and Steepholm and be constructed from concrete.

“When I raised the idea people all said they would invest in the plan,” he said. “But I don’t want to take everyone’s hard earned cash. This needs to be a bond backed scheme through the Government and it’s got to be done as we need renewable sources of power.”

If the Severn Lake project can attract the attention of the Government and the billions required to construct it the causeway would create thousands of jobs on both sides of the Bristol Channel. Bridgwater’s Chamber of Commerce have already said they would welcome the scheme if it was eventually to go ahead because of the boost it would give to the county’s economy.

The next step said Mr Woodham is for the project's advocates to lobby the Government for support and eventual financial backing.

Is the plan a good idea or will it leave the coast at Brean scarred forever if it went ahead? Your views to harry.mottram@nqsw.co.uk