Coleg Gwent geography students recently assisted Gloucester City Council with their work on the impact of flooding.
A group of AS Level Geography students from the Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone studied the causes and impacts of flooding on location in Gloucester during December, and shared the results of their research with the council.
Students were introduced to the area by Gloucester City Council’s Principal Flooding Officer, and collected a wealth of information about the causes, impacts and management of flooding. Under the guidance of the council, the group conducted a land use survey on the river front and sought the views of local residents with questionnaires in the city centre.
A Gloucester City Council spokesperson said: “The information which Coleg Gwent students gathered from local residents was informative and interesting. It demonstrates that the City Council is moving in the right direction regarding the delivery of schemes and reducing the fear of flooding, but noted that more needed to be done to inform residents of the works and schemes that have been carried out.
“The students were keen to ask questions and get stuck in to the surveys and are a real asset to Coleg Gwent.”
Nicola Gatesman, Geography Lecturer at Coleg Gwent’s Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone, said:
“The city provided an interesting study for students due to its low elevation above sea level, its tidal range on the River Severn and the high levels of urbanisation on the river flood plains.
“It was fantastic for students to be able to work with the council to learn first-hand about the causes and impacts of flooding, and even contribute to the Council’s work with their own local residents’ questionnaire. The group were extremely professional ambassadors for the college and we hope the experience will stand them in really good stead for their AS Geography exams.”
