SIR — Regarding the proposed EDF development of Hinkley Point, I am responding to one of the fears expressed by Alex Reed (Your Letters, January 8).

He is concerned about "social issues such as drunkenness, drugs, noise etc" and then goes on to say: "In this case we are looking at workers from all reaches of Eastern Europe who will work hard and play hard."

As far as I know, EDF has not stated where its non-local construction workers will be coming from.

But assuming that Eastern Europeans may well be in the workforce if their country of origin is in the European Union, I would like to comment as follows.

Eastern European countries, as anywhere in Europe, are not immune to the problem of alcoholism. But Britain is way ahead of any other European country in the disorder caused by drunkenness in public.

Indeed, gangs of binge drinkers are transported by budget airlines at weekends to cities such as Prague and Riga to pursue their idea of fun, taking advantage of the cheaper alcohol on offer there.

They are objects of curiosity and annoyance to the local people, who find parts of their town centres disrupted at weekends by the drunkenness and uncivilised behaviour of these fellow-members of the European Union.

Such misconduct is regarded as outlandish and outrageous by the local people.

If Alex Reed is afraid that some of the construction workforce might like to stay on in this part of Somerset, he should remember that incomers form a high percentage of the population of West Somerset. They have settled down, despite their diverse backgrounds.

The spectre of bogeymen from Eastern Europe has been used before in the argument against local campuses for EDF construction workers.

All it does is to fan the flames of prejudice.

Fortunately it does not contribute to a reasoned argument which is likely to carry weight, in this day and age, with EDF or the Independent Planning Commission.

Jane Taunton,

St Andrew's Road,

Stogursey.