Nimbyism and Risk Perception A critical evaluation of the Canatxx Gas Storage proposal in Preesall.

Abstract

Community collective action, risk perception and NIMBYism are all attributes of
dangerous sitings. This dissertation focuses on the reactions of local people and
how they perceived the risks associated with the CGS proposal.
The research conducted, included 20 in-depth interviews and 20 questionnaires,
within a concentric ring formation, spread with 1 mile differentials.
The distance differentials revealed that the closer someone resides to a potential
siting, the greater the risk was perceived to be. Also the knowledge of the
proposal was shown to diminish with distance from the proposal.
The results showed that the reactions of the interviewees were more NIABY than
NIMBY. The feelings of resentment were so strong against the CGS proposal that
local people did not want the site to go ahead anywhere, not just locally.
The risk perception of the interviewees also concluded that their fears associated
with the proposal were rational and constructed from historical and cultural beliefs.