Temperatures could soar by six degrees in the Five Valleys

TEMPERATURES in the Five Valleys and the surrounding area could rise by just over six degrees Celsius over the next 70 years, an alarming new report has revealed.

The study, which was published by the UK Climate Impact Programme last week, looked at the overall effect of climate change for the next century. The nearest location to Stroud for which figures were given was Gloucester.

Experts predict an average temperature increase of 3.9 degrees Celsius in the south west but warns temperatures could reach levels up to 6.4 degrees hotter than today.

Average temperatures in Gloucestershire currently range between five degrees in the winter to 21 degrees in summer.

As a result, experts predict a greater risk of flooding as sea levels are expected to rise by up to 80cm by 2080 and 20 per cent more winter rain could fall in some regions.

Sarah Lunnon, Stroud's newly elected Green county councillor, said: "The biggest issue facing us is not council tax rises or potholes in the road it is climate change.

"The question is do we in Gloucestershire have the will to provide sufficient funding to implement far-sighted reduction and adaptation schemes." Cllr Lunnon also called for climate change to be a bigger priority by increasing funding and efforts to prevent the release of greenhouse gases.

The impact report, which was updated from a 2002 study, predicts that one in six homes will be at risk of flooding in the next 25 years - double the current figures. Stan Waddington, acting lead cabinet member for the environment at Gloucestershire County Council, added: "We are taking climate change very seriously by doing our bit to reduce carbon emissions and taking steps to keep the county safe."

Several schemes are in place to prevent a repeat of the 2007 floods.

Drain and gullies are being cleared and other flood prevention schemes are underway.