This text examines the opinions of residents in South West England to plans for the development of power industries in their region. The key theme is that the responses of local residents towards nuclear facilities and other major developments deserve to be taken seriously.

This book describes a series of studies of the attitudes of residents of South West England to plans for the development of power industries in their region. The major theme is that the attitudes of local residents towards nuclear facilities and other major developments deserve to be taken seriously, even where these attitudes diverge from those of 'experts'. Consideration should also be given to the theory that a proportion of peoples attitudes relates to their trust and respect of Industry and Government. Although cast in local context, the research described illustrates more general changes in public attitudes on environmental issues, and the ascendancy of these issues up the national and international political agenda. The book concludes with an account of how public opinion has been dealt with the Public Inquiry into the proposed building of a new power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset, and a discussion of the possible future for nuclear power in the UK in a changed political and economic climate.