With mouths symbolically gagged with tape, demonstrators opposing a new fast track planning process for the proposed new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point showed how they believe that public involvement will be stifled.. . .
Stop Hinkley spokesman Jim Duffy said "The final decision about this major project - the largest nuclear power plant ever proposed in the UK - will be made by a government quango, the Infrastucture Planning Commission. the IPC is an unelected body whose members have been appointed by the government to implement its energy policy. This policy is in favour of new nuclear build.
When the last Hinkley C proposal was made in the late 1980s there was a public enquiry which lasted for many months and allowed local people a proper voice. Somerset County, West Somerset and Sedgmoor Councils were all involved.
But this time there will be no local hearings and no guarantees that local people will have a voice in the IPC proceedings, which will be held in London."
