A SURVEY has found that the public are unaware of the proposed Severn barrage plans.

The survey, conducted by a new campaign group Stop the Barrage, has found 37 per cent of people they asked were unaware of government proposals to build a barrage across the River Severn.

The survey also revealed that of those asked, 85 per cent were unaware that a barrage would generate power for less than six hours a day.

Stop the Barrage was launched to provide joint publicity for groups opposed to a Severn barrage, such as Severn Rivers Trust, Salmon and Trout Association, Save our Severn and the Bristol Port Company.

These groups have said they would like to see the government focus on alternative tidal energy schemes in the estuary because they believe a barrage would have too great an economic and environmental impact.

The government is currently carrying out a feasibility study into renewable energy possibilities in the Severn Estuary. Ten schemes are being considered, including four barrage proposals, and a shortlist of the proposed options will be announced in November.

John Hutton, the Secretary of State for Energy, has said a Severn tidal power project could generate up to five per cent of the country's electricity demand.

Stuart Ballard, chairman of Save Our Severn, which supports the Stop the Barrage campaign, said: "We want to inform the public and ensure that there is a proper debate about the consequences of building a barrage across the Severn estuary.

"Businesses and the general public need to understand the potential impact of a barrage and if they are concerned need to make their voices heard now, before any more taxpayers' money is spent.

"While we totally support the need to explore and develop more sustainable forms of energy, we believe that there are more elegant ways of generating tidal power from the Severn."

For more information visit www.stopthebarrage.com.