Rachel Gilmour, the Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, has formally requested a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss an ambitious tidal lagoon project in her constituency. The £11 billion scheme, proposed by the West Somerset Lagoon consortium, envisions a 14-mile tidal barrage between Minehead and Watchet that could generate enough clean energy to power around two million homes—rivaling the output of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.
The project has garnered notable endorsements, including from Julia Barfield, the celebrated architect behind the London Eye and Brighton’s i360 tower. The tidal lagoon’s innovative design features a breakwater wall equipped with underwater turbines, along with a marina, floating solar panels, and a publicly accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists.
At a Q&A event in Watchet in January 2025, Mrs. Gilmour expressed her strong support for the lagoon, highlighting its potential to deliver cost-effective, reliable renewable energy for over 120 years. She emphasized that the lagoon would cost approximately one-third of what Hinkley Point C requires but would offer a steadier, more predictable power source than traditional solar or wind generation.
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Beyond clean energy, the plans include a 300-berth marina and water sports facilities that could stimulate local tourism and economic development. Mrs. Gilmour stressed the importance of this investment for west Somerset, an area currently challenged by low social mobility and limited infrastructure.
In addition to advocating for the tidal project, the MP has backed Somerset Council’s £37 million bid to improve crucial local transport by reopening the B3191 Cleeve Hill road between Watchet and Blue Anchor, a vital link for the region.
While the Liberal Democrats have championed the tidal lagoon, local Conservative campaigner James Wright has voiced skepticism. He questions the project’s viability, describing it as potentially a vanity initiative, and insists that more immediate priorities should focus on transport infrastructure, flood prevention on the A39, and establishing a commuter train service to Taunton.
Mrs. Gilmour remains hopeful for government collaboration and is eager to meet with energy and environmental ministers alongside the prime minister to explore how the tidal lagoon proposal might be brought to fruition, positioning it as a landmark infrastructure project with transformative potential for Somerset and beyond.