News : Still time to find out more about geological radioactive waste disposal in Cumbria
It is not too late for people who want to find out more about a potential geological disposal facility for higher-activity radioactive waste in
The West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership has been holding a series of community events as part of a wider large-scale public consultation it is running.
The Partnership has produced a consultation document stating its initial views on a range of issues relating to the area potentially helping the government find a suitable site for an underground repository – such as geology, safety, impacts and benefits. The consultation aims to give people living in
The community events provide an opportunity for people to speak to Partnership members, as well as experts from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the regulators (Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency), and an independent geologist.
There will be a chance to take part in discussion sessions and information will be displayed on boards. The Partnership’s consultation document, as well as a shorter overview leaflet and DVD, will also be available for collection.
The remaining events are:
Wednesday, 1 February,
Thursday, 2 February, The Courts (
Tuesday, February 7,
Wednesday, 8 February, Market Hall, Wigton;
Thursday, 9 February, Market Hall, Egremont;
Friday, 10 February, Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth
Alan Smith, Partnership Member and leader of Allerdale Borough Council, said: “We have had a good turnout at the community events we have held so far and people have been letting us know their views on our initial opinions.
“We still have several more events lined up so I would urge everyone with an interest in this very important process to come along and find out more about what this could mean for the area.”
More than 440 people have taken part in the consultation events so far.
People have been asking a range of questions and expressing their views on issues such as geology, housing provision, perceptions of the area, the possible effect on the
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.
In addition to the public consultation, which runs until 23rd March, a large representative opinion poll will be conducted to gauge public opinion in
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, the councils 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 a copy of the consultation document visit the Partnership’s website – www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk
Ends
The images attached were taken at the Partnership’s recent community event in Kendal.
For media enquiries please contact the Partnership’s communications advisor Paul Gardner or Ian Boydon at Osprey Communications on 01524-782086 or 077667906561
1. The Chair of Partnership rotates between the three principle authorities on the Partnership – Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council and Cumbria County Council.
2. 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 Council, local trade unions, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Churches Together Council, Eden District Council, South Lakeland District Council, Carlisle City Council, the Lake District National Park Authority, the Cumbria Association of Local Councils, NuLeAF (the Nuclear Legacy Advisory Forum), the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Cumbria Tourism.
3. 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.
4. The Government is looking for a community in the