Local communities give only qualified support for new reactors

bristol | the environment | press release Wednesday October 01, 2008 11:31 by Jim Duffy - Stop Hinkley stophinkley at aol dot com 07968 974805

Stop Hinkley (Shut Oldbury) campaigners have welcomed a five year Cardiff University study that shows only qualified support for nuclear new build in communities near potential sites.

The report, based on over 1,300 interviews, shows despite overall support for new build at Hinkley (61% for and 23% against) (50% for and 31% against at Oldbury) there is a clear ambivalence towards nuclear power in over one third of supportive local residents (38%). Many of these want to see climate change and energy security issues addressed but see nuclear as risky and could easily change their mind on local new build. The substantial group who are totally opposed to nuclear reactors nearby feel the risks far outweigh the advantages, distrust the industry and government on the matter and prefer renewable energy.

The vast majority, 84% of local Hinkley (and Oldbury) residents said they want proper local consultation by the Government and industry on plans for new build, which would be undermined if local concerns were not fully taken into account. The study's authors suggest the industry cannot be complacent over support they assume will be there. This support is tentative and could be eroded, considering the combined weight of those opposed and those who are ambivalent.

Jim Duffy, Spokesman for Stop Hinkley (and Shut Oldbury) who attended the Royal Society presentation in London, said: "I think the industry might have hoped for better results than this. There seems to be a big chunk of nominally supportive local people who have mixed feelings and, when reminded of the risks, tend to shy from nuclear."

"Professor Pidgeon reveals that over the five year study, local people have demanded 'consultation in a proper manner' but the Government has already failed on this point with its rigged 2006 Energy Review which buried the low figures for nuclear's usefulness towards climate change at the back of its bogus consultation. We're still waiting for the results of Greenpeace's complaint to the ombudsman."

"The definition of local might also be important here. Burnham-on-Sea is a long distance by road but only five miles downwind from Hinkley. Our own, less scientific, poll in the town showed 72% against Hinkley C in 2002 (1). This could be due to fewer nuclear jobs held by Burnham residents than in West Somerset while health effects seem to be remarkably common there according to our commissioned studies. The county town of Taunton gave a 99% verdict against Hinkley C in the same year (2)"

"Thornbury residents also gave the thumbs down for new build at Oldbury in 2002, together with Bristolians, people in Stroud and Cheltenham with a combined 73% against new nuclear(3)"

Jim Duffy
Stop Hinkley/Shut Oldbury Coordinator 1st october 2008
07968 974805
www.stophinkley.org

Notes:
(1) Parents Concerned About Hinkley and Stop Hinkley members canvassed 300 shoppers in Burnham High Street, during the first Govt. Energy Review, November 2002. (This Energy Review rejected nuclear power)
(2) Taunton Friends of the Earth canvassed 100 shoppers in Taunton High Street, November 2002.
(3) Gloucester Green Party and Friends of the Earth canvassed 400 shoppers in four local towns, November 2002.

Cardiff University led study reveals communities close to existing
> nuclear power stations show only qualified support for nuclear new
> build
>
>
> As the Government and Energy Companies press ahead with preparations
> for a new generation of nuclear power plants in Britain, the results
> of a new study show that many residents living near to existing
> nuclear stations give only qualified support to the construction of
> new nuclear power stations in their locality.
>
> The five-year study focused on people living near nuclear stations at
> Bradwell (Essex), Oldbury
> (Gloucestershire) and Hinkley Point (Somerset), exploring their
> attitudes towards and concerns about nuclear power. The results of the
> study are published today, 30th September 2008.
>
> A key factor in siting new nuclear stations will be public acceptance
> amongst local communities at the existing sites. Professor Nick
> Pidgeon of the School of Psychology at Cardiff University, who led the
> research team, explained: It is clear that the proponents of
> nuclear power have made the assumption that it will be far easier to
> develop new stations at the existing sites, because, among other
> factors, they believe that local communities will be very supportive.
>
> However, we know very little about what members of such communities
> in Britain really think and feel about nuclear power today. This new
> research, which combined extensive interviewing with a major survey,
> helps us to understand more about this critical aspect of the current
> nuclear energy debate.
>
> The study was carried out by researchers from the School of Psychology
> and the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University, and from the
> School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia.
>
> The results, which are being presented this morning (30th September)
> at the Royal Society in London, include the following key findings:
>
> On Experiences of Living with Nuclear Power Interviews with residents
> living close to Bradwell and Oldbury revealed that:
> â—� On a day-to-day basis residents view their local nuclear station
> as familiar and unremarkable.
> This sense of ordinariness, combined with a belief that local
> operators can be trusted to keep the plants safe, underpins local
> confidence in nuclear power.
> â—� However, the reassuring narrative of familiarity is disrupted at
> specific moments when residents are reminded by external events such
> as terrorist activity that there might be risks associated with their
> local plant. In such moments people can, and do, experience anxiety
> about living with nuclear power.
>
> On Support for Local New Build
> â—� The survey showed that 50% at Oldbury and 61% at Hinkley Point
> supported new nuclear build at their local site. Opposition to local
> new build was significantly greater at Oldbury (31%) than at Hinkley
> Point (23%).
>
> The Need for Local Consultation
> â—� Regardless of their opinion on nuclear power, the vast majority of
> people surveyed (84%) wanted the industry and Government to fully
> involve local people in plans for siting new nuclear power stations
> locally.
>
> On Differences within Communities
> Although attitudes towards nuclear power were generally positive, the
> researchers found important differences in attitudes which showed that
> local residents are not simply pro- or anti- nuclear power. At all
> three locations they identified four distinctive points of view, which
> were confirmed by the survey conducted around Hinkley Point and
> Oldbury. These points of view were as follows.
> â—� Beneficial and Safe. This group (34% of the survey respondents)
> believe that nuclear power brings local benefits and invest high trust
> in local operators to keep the plants safe.
> â—� Threat and Distrust. This group (16%) believe the risks of nuclear
> power far outweigh any benefits, want to see renewable energy
> developed in response to climate change, and are highly distrustful of
> both the nuclear industry and government.
> â—� Reluctant Acceptance. This group (38%) are ambivalent about nuclear power.
> They view it as risky but are prepared to accept it locally because it
> may be needed for addressing climate change and energy security. The
> ambivalence voiced by this significant segment of the local
> populations surveyed suggests that, for many, their support is highly
> provisional and potentially subject to change.
> â—� There is No Point Worrying. This group (12%) although barely
> noticing the power station, and expressing few concerns about it, are
> highly critical of those in authority and unsympathetic to critics of
> nuclear power who they see as exaggerating the issue.
>
> Professor Pidgeon added: The findings suggest that failing to
> consult in a proper manner, or in a way that does not fully recognise
> and respond to local peoples concerns, would almost certainly
> undermine the local confidence and trust in local plant operators
> which has been painstakingly built up in all of the locations that we
> studied over a considerable period of time.
>
> Despite the apparent level of support for nuclear power that exists
> in these communities, our research also demonstrates that many remain
> ambivalent towards nuclear power, and strong mistrust of both the
> industry and Government is voiced by a further significant minority of
> residents.
> Accordingly, any such erosion of local confidence could have adverse
> consequences for relations between the nuclear industry and local
> communities, and for the nuclear new build programme as a whole. This
> clearly argues against complacency about the future.
>
> The research was funded primarily by the Social Contexts and Responses
> to Risk priority network of the Economic and Social Research Council
> (ESRC: www.esrc.ac.uk) co-ordinated by the University of Kent, with
> additional support for the survey stage from The Leverhulme Trust
> (www.leverhulme.org.uk).
>
>
> Ends
> Notes for editors
>
> 1. For further information or to arrange an interview with Professor
> Nick Pidgeon or the other Principal Investigators (Dr Karen Henwood or
> Mr Peter Simmons) please contact Victoria Dando at the Cardiff
> University public relations office: tel: 029 2087 9074, e-mail:
> dandov2@cardiff.ac.uk.
>
> 2. A full copy of the report will be available from 30th September
> 2008 at www.kent.ac.uk/scarr.
> The full title of the report is Pidgeon, N.F., Henwood, K.L.,
> Parkhill, K.A., Venables, D. and Simmons, P. (2008) Living with
> Nuclear Power in Britain: A Mixed Methods Study. School of Psychology,
> Cardiff University.
>
> 3. Fieldwork comprised three phases: 61 in depth narrative interviews
> with residents living near Bradwell and Oldbury held between 2004 and
> 2007; a Q-sort interview held with 84 residents near Bradwell and
> Oldbury in 2007; and finally a major household survey held in July
> 2008 (n=1326) of residents living near to Oldbury (n=680) and Hinkley
> Point (n=646) nuclear power stations. For more details of the
> methodology used see the full research report.
>
> 4. Cardiff University
> Cardiff University is recognised in independent government assessments
> as one of Britain’s leading teaching and research universities. It
> is also ranked as one of the world’s top 100 universities by the
> Times Higher Education Supplement (THES).
> 2008 marks the 125th anniversary of Cardiff University having been
> founded by Royal Charter in 1883. Today the University combines
> impressive modern facilities and a dynamic approach to teaching and
> research. The University’s breadth of expertise in research and
> research-led teaching
> encompasses: the humanities; the natural, physical, health, life and
> social sciences; engineering and technology; preparation for a wide
> range of professions; and a longstanding commitment to lifelong
> learning.
> Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of the UK’s leading
> research universities.
> Visit the University website at: www.cardiff.ac.uk
>
> 5. The ESRC is the UK’s largest funding agency for research relating
> to social and economic issues. It has a track record of providing
> high-quality, relevant res earch to business, the public sector and
> Government. The current budget of £203 million (2008/2009) funds over
> 4000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions
> and policy research institutes throughout the UK.
> http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk
>
> 6. The Leverhulme Trust, established at the wish of William Hesketh
> Lever, makes awards for the support of research and education. The
> Trust emphasises individuals and encompasses all subject areas. With
> annual funding of some £40 million, the Trust is amongst the largest
> all subject providers of research funding in the UK.
>
>
> Victoria Dando
> Public Relations Office/ Swyddfa Cysylltiadau Cyhoeddus Cardiff
> University/ Prifysgol Caerdydd.
> Tel/ Ffon: 029 2087 9074
> Email/ E-bost: DandoV2@Cardiff.ac.uk
>
> For the latest news and events from Cardiff University, visit
> www.cardiff.ac.uk