THE Severn Barrage is the the 'single most important low carbon, renewable energy project in Europe', according to Peter Hain.

The Neath MP this week resigned as Shadow Welsh Secretary to campaign for the barrage, which would stretch from Lavernock Point to Brean Down in Somerset, earlier this week.

It would be the biggest infrastructure project ever in Wales.

Mr Hain said: “The Severn Barrage will have the biggest, most positive effect on Wales of anything in the next few years, short of Government macro-economic policy.

“It is the single most important low carbon, renewable energy project in Europe and should be backed by all those serious about tackling climate change.”

The scheme, put forward by the Corlan Hafren Consortium, would create thousands of jobs in Wales and generate around 5 per cent of the UK’s energy needs.

Mr Hain added: “It would generate the equivalent of several nuclear power stations, and contribute over 5 per cent of Britain’s entire electricity requirements.

“There will be tens of thousands of jobs created in the construction industry and potentially tens of thousands more in other sectors.

“And there will be all sorts of other benefits - it will help against flooding and the rise in the level of the sea, which could otherwise threaten a number of areas up the Severn Estuary.”

But Gareth Clubb, director of Friends of the Earth Cymru believes Mr Hain is supporting the wrong option for tidal power.

“A massive concrete barrage stretching across the Severn could have an enormous environmental impact, destroying vast areas of habitat of international importance," he said.

"Fish and bird life would be devastated and could not recover.

“Harnessing the power of seas around Wales is vitally important for tackling climate change and developing the green energy we need, and could allow Wales to lead the world in new marine power technologies," he added.

“But this project could well be the wrong solution – tidal energy can be captured by other means with much less damaging consequences, and could be giving us green energy far sooner than the 20 years it will take to build this barrage.

“Putting all our eggs into one risky project could block other better possibilities, and halt the growth in jobs and technology these could produce.”

One of the engineering consultancies comprising the Corlan Hafren consortium, Halcrow, said there was no update on plans for the scheme.