THE Government’s rejection of a ‘too-costly’ tidal energy lagoon in Swansea Bay should be a boost to an alternative scheme off the West Somerset coast, says the area’s MP.

Ministers say the £1.3 billion Swansea scheme would generate electricity that would cost three times as much per unit as offshore wind and new nuclear power.

The announcement has thrown the whole future of the proposed six-mile structure into doubt.

But Ian Liddell-Grainger, Conservative MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, says urgent consideration should now be given to a rival proposal for a nine-mile lagoon running from Minehead to Lilstock, near Hinkley Point, which studies suggest would be much cheaper to build because it would sit in shallower water.

Since the 1950s successive Governments have been looking at the possibility of harnessing the power of the world’s second-largest tides in the Bristol Channel.

But no scheme has even made it to detailed design stage.

One of the favoured options was for a barrage stretching from Brean Down, near Bridgwater, to Lavernock Point near Cardiff, a construction which could meet around five per cent of the country’s energy needs.

But even in its early stages the scheme ran into vigorous opposition from environmentalists and up against the financial challenges of securing a return for investors on the monumental capital costs of construction.

But Mr Liddell-Grainger says it is ridiculous to ignore the potential for energy generation that the Channel’s 12-metre tidal range offers.

“Once any tidal lagoon is up and running it would be there for the next 100 years, all that time delivering clean, reliable energy with a minimal environmental impact – regardless of whether the sun was shining or the wind was blowing,” he said.

“At a time when there is such a need to step up electricity production from renewable resources we simply cannot just stand on the beach and watch the tide coming in and out: we have to look at every opportunity to turn those natural forces into usable energy.

“The West Somerset lagoon would be comparatively cheaper to build than the Swansea scheme and would have the added advantage of an existing direct connection into the national grid at Hinkley Point, close to its northern terminus.

"I tend to think that any other country presented with a similar opportunity would be grasping it with both hands – and I really don’t see how we can afford not to do so.”

The West Somerset Lagoon idea is being promoted by Devon-based company LongBay SeaPower, meanwhile there is a separate project for a Bridgwater Bay Tidal Lagoon, which has been developed by Tidal Lagoon Power - the same firm behind the ill-fated Swansea Bay idea.

Charles Hendry backed the £1.3bn Swansea Bay project in his government-commissioned review of January 2017.

However on Monday, (June 25), Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said it was not value for money.

Keith Clarke, chairman of Tidal Lagoon Plc said: “The lack of engagement with us during this process has been highly disturbing.

“Perversely, the unique longevity, commitment to employ British industry and the multi-functional role that tidal lagoons can play in deprived regional economies have been twisted to work against Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

“Any new industry needs a pathfinder and that can only be Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

"Without it, we will again export jobs that could and should stay here."