News : Opinion poll to find out what West Cumbrian’s think about the possibility of an underground repository for nuclear waste
Plans have been announced for a large scale opinion survey to find out what people in West Cumbria think about the possibility of a nuclear waste repository being sited in the area.
The West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership has commissioned Ipsos MORI, one of the country's leading opinion polling companies to carry out the statistically representative opinion survey.
The Partnership is in the middle of a major communications and consultation programme to raise awareness of the discussions that are taking place and to give members of the public the chance to have their say on whether or not West Cumbria should take part in the search for somewhere to put an underground repository for the nation’s higher activity radioactive waste.
If this happens there would be studies and investigations, looking in detail at things like the area’s geology, to see if there is anywhere suitable to put a repository. The Councils would be able to withdraw from the process up until the point where construction could start.
Tim Knowles, the current chair of the Partnership, says: "We've been holding consultation events across the county. However, as this issue would particularly affect people in West Cumbria, we decided that an opinion survey should be carried out in this area to gauge public opinion.
"It's vitally important that we know what local people think. The poll, together with the responses we get to the consultation, will therefore play a key role in helping the Councils decide whether the area should take part in the search for a repository site."
Ipsos MORI has produced a draft questionnaire for the survey and this is now available for people to comment on before 20th February. A copy is available on the Partnership's website - www.WestCumbriamrws.org.uk
Two independent experts on polling have also being commissioned to give their views on the survey and the methodology for carrying it out.
Tim Knowles, the current chair of the Partnership, says: "We want to make sure that the results of the survey are as reliable as possible so the Partnership, and the Councils that will make the formal decision, have a clear idea what the public thinks.
"It's obviously important that the survey is carried out fairly. That is why we are using a reputable polling company, getting the views of independent experts and giving other people the chance to comment on the questions that are asked in the survey."
The opinion poll will be carried out by telephone and Ipsos MORI will start calling people, selected randomly, around the 8th of March.
The Partnership has said that one of its key criteria for assessing whether there is credible support for taking part in the search for a site is whether there are more people who are for than against in Allerdale and Copeland, where a repository could be located. People in other parts of
Some people have suggested that there should be a referendum before a decision is made. However, the Partnership concluded that a referendum would not be appropriate at this point. This is partly because it is not yet known where a repository might be sited and therefore there is only general information available on key issues such as safety, geology and the impact of constructing these facilities.
The Partnership has produced a briefing note with more information on the opinion poll which is available on its website.
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* For more information on how the Partnership plans to assess public and stakeholder views see page 107 of the consultation document.
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 principal 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