News : Big decision for Cumbrians in 2012
2012 is set to be an important year for Cumbria as a decision is due to be
made on whether the west of the county takes part in the Government's search
for a suitable site to locate an underground disposal facility for
higher-activity radioactive waste, without any commitment to have it.
A large programme of public consultation is currently being held by the West
Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) Partnership, with public
events due to be held across the county during January and February.
The Partnership, which is made up of representatives of all the local
authorities in the county as well as organisations such as the National
Farmers' Union, Cumbria Tourism, the Lake District National Park Authority
and the Cumbria Association of Local Councils, has spent more than two years
gathering information, commissioning research and asking questions in order
to find out more about what taking part in the search for site would mean
for the area.
The Partnership has published a consultation document stating its initial
opinions on a range of issues such as geology, safety, what would go into a
repository, what impacts a repository might have for the area and what
additional benefits there might be.
The public are being asked to read the full consultation document - which is
available for download from the Partnership's website at
www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk <http://www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk/> and can be
ordered by calling Freephone 0800 0488912, or by emailing
contact@westcumbriamrws.org.uk - and to let the Partnership know their
thoughts and comments. There is also a shorter Overview document available
and a DVD.
Councillor Tim Knowles, the Cumbria County Councillor responsible for the
environment, will take on the role of Chairman of the West Cumbria Managing
Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership over the next six months. He said:
"This year is a very significant year for Cumbria and particularly West
Cumbria. The decision, about whether the area should take part in the
Government's search to find a suitable location for a geological disposal
facility for the nation's higher-activity radioactive waste, is a very
important one.
"We are currently asking people to read our initial opinions on a range of
key issues and to let us know what they think. There are a lot of questions
that cannot be answered at this point because no site has been selected. If
we choose to take place in the search for a site we would learn more as
detailed investigations are carried out.
"The question we all need to consider at this point is, based on what we
know now, should we take part in the search for a possible site?
"This is not a decision we should take lightly. A repository would affect
this area for many generations into the future and the views of the public
are therefore vital in deciding whether we should go any further in this
process."
More information about the events that are being organised by the
Partnership can be found <http://> at www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk
<http://www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk/>
At the end of the public consultation, which is set to run until March 23, a
large representative opinion poll will be conducted to gauge public opinion
in West Cumbria on whether the area should take part in the Government's
search for a suitable site for a repository. The area will only take part if
it is demonstrated that there is credible support.
These views will then be taken into consideration when the Partnership
finalises its report to send to the three local authorities that will make a
formal decision about whether to take part in the search for a site -
Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council and Cumbria County
Council. All the views submitted to the consultation and the results of the
survey will also be provided to the Councils who will take the formal
decision later in 2012.
If the area does decide to participate, it could withdraw at any point in
the future until work begins to build a repository. It would take around 15
years to find a suitable site following extensive testing of geology and
other factors.
For more information about the Partnership and the issues please visit the
Partnership's website.