The Role of Local Communities in the Process of Siting of the Unwanted Facilities within the Rural Areas in Poland

Abstract The subject of this study is the activity of rural communities in the face of plans of locating unwanted projects within their locations of residence, and the influence of the activity on the decision makers and, ultimately, on the final fate of the envisaged projects. The participation of inhabitants and decisions of the authorities, taken in response to these activities, and concerning the respective projects, were analysed on a basis of a questionnaire-based survey which was undertaken in the municipalities, in which conflicts have taken place. In-depth investigations were also carried out in five municipalities. The following activities: preparing a collective petition to decision-maker, organizing local meetings, taking part in meetings organised by the authorities or investor, filing of proposals and remarks to the projects of decisions and documents, entering into cooperation with actors from outside of the municipality were undertaken by groups of residents in more than 65% cases of conflicts. The activity of inhabitants generally exerted an influence on the final outcome from the respective conflicts. In the majority of cases, the unwanted projects, for which the decision making body was the local authority, either were not realised, or were realised with modifications, resulting from the social protests.