66: The Severn Barrage

This material is from National Curriculum Blueprints: Geography by Colin Bridge, Terry Jewson and Stephen Scoffham and is used with permission.

Below is a map showing the Bristol Channel and the proposed location of the barrage across the River Severn. 

There is a scheme to build a barrage across the River Severn. It would make electricity by harnessing the power of the tide.

Read the statements below. Cut the statements out and arrange them in your book according to whether they are facts about the barrage, advantages of building the barrage or disadvantages of building the barrage.

The barrage could generate about 7% of the electricity we use in England and Wales.

The Severn is a good site because the river estuary funnels the site.

The barrage could affect the homes of the birds which live on the mud flats.

There would be a main road across the barrage.

The scheme would create about 20 000 permanent jobs in the area.

The barrage would make electricity without causing pollution.

The barrage would be very expensive to build.

The barrage would make the river look ugly.

The peace and quiet of nearby country areas would be lost.