News : Public drop-in events to be held across Cumbria as part of discussions about a repository for higher activity nuclear waste

 People living in Cumbria will get the chance over the next few weeks to speak to community representatives about the possibility of the Government building an underground nuclear waste repository in Allerdale or Copeland.

 

A series of community drop-in events have been arranged by the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) Partnership – which is made up of local authorities and other stakeholders, including the Lake District National Park Authority, the National Farmer’s Union, Churches Together in Cumbria and the Cumbria Association of Local Councils.

 

The Partnership has been set up to advise Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council and Cumbria County Council about whether West Cumbria should take part in the Government’s search for somewhere to locate a repository.

 

The drop-in events provide a chance for anybody living in the area to find out what a geological disposal facility is, what it may look like and how having one in Allerdale or Copeland might affect people in West Cumbria and the rest of the county.

 

In addition to members of the Partnership, representatives from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the British Geological Survey will be on hand to answer questions about Government policy and technical issues. 

 

Councillor Tim Knowles, the Chairman of the Partnership and the Cumbria County Council Cabinet member responsible for environment, says: “The Government has made it clear that this is a voluntary process.  That means it is up to the people in this area to decide whether or not we should take part in the search for somewhere to put a repository.  I urge everyone to come along to one of these events to find out more, ask questions and tell us what you think.”

 

The times, dates and locations of the drop-in events are as follows:

 

·         12 midday-8pm Friday on November 19 at the Network Centre in Millom.

·         10am-4pm on Saturday, November 20 at The Forum in Barrow.

·         12 midday-8pm on Monday, November 22 at the Old Town Hall in Carlisle.

·         12 midday-8pm on Tuesday, November 23 at the Civic Hall in Whitehaven.

·         12 midday-8pm on Wednesday, November 24 at Crosthwaite Church Hall in Keswick.

·         12 midday-8pm on Thursday, November 25 at the Market Hall in Wigton.

·         12 midday-8pm on Friday, November 26 at the Village Hall in Calderbridge.

·         12 midday-8pm on Monday, November 29 at the Methodist Church Hall in Penrith.

·         12 midday-8pm on Tuesday, November 30 at the Town Hall in Kendal.

·         12 midday-8pm on Friday, December 3 at St Michael’s Church in Workington.

 

There will exhibition boards and information to take away, as well as a short presentation and discussion session every 2 hours during each of the events. These sessions will take place at 12.30, 2.30, 4.30 and 6.30 for the weekday events and 10.30, 12.30 and 2.30 at the Saturday event in Barrow.

 

There will be refreshments at the events and an activity corner for children.  There will also be an opportunity to take part in a quiz to win an iPod Touch. 

 

There will be another chance for people to give their views later next year before the Partnership makes its final recommendation to the local authorities. 

 

The drop-in events are part of an extensive public information and consultation programme being run by the Partnership.   You can find more information about the events and other ways to get involved on the Partnership’s website at www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk, the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership Facebook page and by following @westcumbriamrws on Twitter. 

 

If anyone needs transport to the drop-in events the Partnership may be able to help. For more information on this or to find out more about the Partnership you can call a freephone number 0800 048 8912 or email contact@westcumbriamrws.org.uk

 

Ends

 

For media enquiries please contact the Partnership’s Communications Adviser Paul Gardner at Osprey Communications on 01524-782086 or 07766-906561

w.westcumbriamrws.org.uk www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk

Notes to editors

 

 

  1. In addition to Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council and Cumbria County Council there are a range of other organisations making up the partnership, including Barrow Borough Advisory Forum), local trade unions, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Churches Together Council, Eden District Council, South Lakeland District Council, the Lake District National Park Authority, the Cumbria Association of Local Councils, NuLeAF (the Nuclear Legacy in Cumbria, the Chamber of Commerce and the West Cumbria Sites Stakeholder Group.

 

  1. A number of other organisations attend as ‘observing members’ including Government departments, the Isle of Man Government, CoRWM (Committee on Radioactive Waste Management), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the safety and environment regulators.

 

  1. The Government is looking for a community in the UK to volunteer to have a repository. Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council and Cumbria County Council decided to take part in early discussions about this process on behalf of West Cumbria because a large amount of the country’s radioactive waste is already stored in the area at Sellafield.

 

  1. Taking part in discussions with the Government does not commit the Cumbrian authorities to hosting a deep geological repository and they can withdraw from the process at any point up until a time when construction would begin – estimated to be more than 10 years from now.

 

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