Work continues on visitor centre devoted to £200m Wyre Tidal Barrage

The £200m Wyre Tidal Barrage scheme is to be promoted with a new information centre in the town, in premises on North Albert Street which are currently being renovated.

Among the various displays planned for the premises will be the turbine model.

Natural Energy Wyre (NEW), the company behind the ambitious proposals, has taken out a five year lease on the former Fleetwood Post Office building on North Albert Street, from which the public can view plans an ask question.

Renovation work on the premises, a landmark building in the town centre, has been underway since November and is currently continuing.

A final opening date has not yet been confirmed but work is progressing steadily on the premises.

Bob Long, managing director of Natural Energy Wyre Ltd, said: “We have to make sure the information centre is absolutely right, as this will be one of the main ways we engage with the public.

“One of the displays will be the model turbine, which will give people a three-dimensional vision of part of the barrage.

“Once the centre is open people will have a better idea of how everything will work.”

Mr Long, who lives in Thornton but grew up in Fleetwood, said that there were plenty of developments behind the scenes to ensure the barrage scheme itself was moving forward.

Just a few weeks ago a party of Chinese businessmen were in Fleetwood for a site visit, with a view to discuss possibly backing the scheme financially.

Discussions with various parties, regarding funding for the initial feasibility study, are also continuing.

The barrage will harness tidal energy from the River Wyre between Fleetwood and Knott End, while at the same time creating an ecological tourism attraction.

NEW say the barrage will not only create jobs but will bring in visitors and massively benefit the whole town.