Public support for nuclear positive, but fickle

Support for nuclear power among some of the communities living closest to reactors is "surprisingly" strong, but opposition remains and could gain fresh momentum if nuclear operators and the government fail to undertake adequate consultation before authorising a new generation of plants.

That is the conclusion of the first major study into public attitudes towards nuclear power amongst the communities living closest to reactors since the 1980s, which also found significant support for government plans for a new fleet of nuclear power plants.

The survey of 1,326 residents living near Hinkley Point and Oldbury nuclear power stations in the south west was carried out by researchers from the universities of Cardiff and East Anglia. It found that 50 per cent of residents at Oldbury and 61 per cent at Hinkley Point supported new nuclear reactors being built at their local site, with only 31 per cent and 23 per cent respectively opposing the idea.

The results will be welcomed by the government, which earlier this year announced plans to build a new fleet of reactors to replace those due to retire over the next decade and signalled that the bulk of the new reactors are likely to be built on the sites of existing plants.

The survey also found limited opposition to the nuclear industry in general with only 16 per cent of respondents expressing distrust towards the sector, compared to 34 per cent who saw the local power plants as safe and beneficial additions to the local community.

However, the survey also found that 38 per cent of respondents were ambivalent towards nuclear power – recognising that there were risks attached to having a reactor in the vicinity, but believing that the benefits in terms of reduced carbon emissions and increased energy security made nuclear power necessary.

"There was a higher level of "reluctant acceptance" of nuclear power than we were expecting," said Peter Simmons, lecturer at the school of environmental sciences at the University of East Anglia. "That group is key to the majority view and while they are currently in favour of nuclear, they are ambivalent and their attitude could change."

Simmons advised that if the government and nuclear industry wish to shore up support for new reactors, they should begin consulting as early as possible with the communities likely to be affected.

"More than 80 per cent of respondents felt they should be consulted and the message for the industry and the government is that they need to engage with local communities and communicate clearly," he said. "There is a receptive audience that is generally favourable towards new build, but they are also ambivalent about nuclear and want to be consulted."