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Operations & Assets Briefs Emissions planning committees in quandaries. Faced with an application that has a recommendation from local authority planning officers and few or no objections from technical consultees, politicians feel obliged to consider the perceived views of the electorate, particularly if there is an upcoming election. If there is an impression of massed opposition to a planning application, it is quite likely that the scheme will be voted down. It is relatively simple for ardent objectors to gain the support of others in the area for short periods by causing enough wider concern in the local community. The claims being made about a particular development proposal may be inaccurate and even untruthful, but that is not important – it can be easy to persuade others to oppose something that suddenly seems frightening. Positioning themselves as champions of the downtrodden electorate, it is an easy task for a few objectors to whip up concern outside schools, in shopping precincts and local pubs. Such circumstances can create difficult situations for developers and some choose to disengage from the community at this point or even walk away from a project altogether. While the second scenario is a clear victory for opponents, the first sets the scene for a similar outcome. Promoters who disengage from the community leave the way clear for objectors to persuade local politicians that the scheme is both wrong and unpopular and must be voted down, no matter the real rights or wrongs of the issue. In response, a developer needs to be able to demonstrate to the wider community, local politicians and other key stakeholders that, despite some vehement opposition from a hardcore group, the consultation process is genuine, accommodating and meaningful. A well-designed and executed consultation process will open up debate and identify key local issues. The majority of people within a community will have no strong views about a proposal at the outset. There is always a level of local support for a proposed project. It is up to the developer to identify groups and individuals who will back a scheme by talking with the different elements within a local community. Some will support a proposal on principle, others will see spin-off benefits generated for the local area such as jobs, improved road networks or local facilities. Discussing mutual benefits is a good idea. How can the project enhance the community directly or indirectly? Can a discussion about some of the points that cause most concern lead to alterations that overcome particular worries, build trust and engender support? If a developer can demonstrate that the proposal will bring economic and social benefits to an area, many will be happy to show support or, at the least, refuse to side with the noisy group of hardcore objectors handing out leaflets outside the local shopping centre. Developers should ask supporters to speak on their behalf at local meetings and demonstrate that public support exists through letters, emails and phone calls to key councillors and officials. Having a good proposal is not enough. Developers need to demonstrate that community support for the proposal exists to politicians. We shall not be moved Balcombe. Cuadrilla starts test drilling in Balcombe, West Sussex, in July 2013. Local protesters are joined by outsiders, including Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, who is arrested by police. Cuadrilla ends test drilling in October. West Burton. In October 2012, 21 No Dash for Gas protestors enter EDF's Nottinghamshire plant and scale the chimneys, where they sit for seven days. EDF later abandons a lawsuit against the protesters claiming £5 million in damages. Ratcliffe-on-Soar. For two days in October 2009, Eon's Nottinghamshire plant sees 1,000 protesters camp outside the coal plant demanding its closure. Sections of security fencing are pulled down despite a large police presence. Fifty-six people are arrested and a policeman is airlifted to hospital. Kinsgnorth. 2007: 50 Greenpeace activists enter Kent power plant, disable coal conveyors and scale a chimney in attempt to shutdown plant. They are protesting Eon's plans to build a new coal plant at the site, even though it will incorporate carbon capture and storage technology. 2008: a Camp for Climate Change attracts thousands of protestors. Police employ widespread stop and search powers, later declared unlawful. In 2010 Eon abandons plans to build the new plant. Utilities endorse infrastructure plan Infrastructure businesses could save 24 million tonnes of carbon and £1.46 billion a year by 2050, under a plan launched by ministers and industry leaders on Monday. The Infrastructure Carbon Review makes sector-specific recommendations on using technology, construction techniques and low-carbon materials to cut emissions. Twenty companies including EDF, National Grid and Anglian Water endorsed the review. Water Tideway Tunnel hearings for locals Thames Water's planning application for the proposed Tideway Tunnel has had its first hearing by the Examining Authority (ExA) of the Planning Inspectorate. The ExA said it had decided to hold a series of open-floor hearings at locations close to some of the application work sites and communities that it has received the most representations from. During the hearings, each interested party will be entitled to make oral representations, and Thames Water is likely to be invited to briefly respond to any matters raised. Pan-utility Floods cost UK up to £600m in 2012 Flooding in 2012 could have cost the UK economy close to £600 million, according to the latest research from the Environment Agency. Of this amount, damage to property is estimated to be up to £277 million, while the overall impact on businesses in England was up to £200 million (£84 million in property damage). UTILITY WEEK | 29th November - 5th December 2013 | 23