News : Research shows 52% of Cumbrians are aware of discussions
Ipsos MORI research shows 52% of Cumbria adults are aware of discussions on the geological disposal facility for higher level radioactive waste
Around one in two (52%) adults in Cumbria are aware that discussions are taking place between the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) Partnership and the Government about possibly locating the geological disposal facility for higher activity radioactive waste somewhere in West Cumbria.
The proportions are higher in West Cumbria with 70% of those surveyed in Copeland and 61% in Allerdale saying they were aware of the discussions.
An overwhelming majority of people questioned in the county (95%) agree that it is the responsibility of this generation to deal with radioactive waste rather than leave it for future generations.
The survey was carried out last November before the Partnership sent a leaflet to homes in West Cumbria and held a number of public meetings.
At that point only a quarter of the people questioned for the survey (27%) knew that the Government is looking for a community to volunteer to locate the facility in their area. Awareness was higher in Copeland (44%) and Allerdale (36%).
Only two out of ten people (20%) were aware that entering into dialogue with the Government would not commit a community to the process. This figure was higher in Copeland (36%) and Allerdale (25%).
The West Cumbria MRWS Partnership was set up in 2009 to help Allerdale and Copeland Borough Councils and Cumbria County Council make an informed decision about participating in the Government process to find a location for a disposal facility and to ensure that people living in the area are involved.
Elaine Woodburn, the leader of Copeland Borough Council, says: “It is encouraging that so many people are already aware that these discussions are taking place. However, the figures also show the importance of the work we will be doing during 2010 to further raise awareness of the issues involved. The geological disposal facility would have an important effect on people living in the county, particularly in West Cumbria, for many generations to come. We want everyone to have the chance to help us decide whether we should continue talking to the Government about the possibility of locating the facility in this area.”
The Partnership will be carrying out a wide ranging public and stakeholder engagement programme over the next year, including further public meetings.
The Government is asking communities across the country to talk to them about potentially locating a deep underground facility for higher level radioactive waste. It would be well over a decade before any construction could start and up to that point the councils would have the right to withdraw from the process.
The councils decided to start the early stages of this conversation with Government because around 70% of the country’s radioactive waste earmarked for geological disposal is already stored at Sellafield. The councils believe that because of the social, environmental and economic impact, both positive and negative, that the waste has on West Cumbria it is essential the area is involved in the process to decide what happens to it in future.
If West Cumbria does decide to carry on with this process, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority would look at a wide range of criteria to begin to narrow the focus to potentially suitable sites. A final decision would only be made much later on.
The survey suggests that at this stage, just under half of adults in Cumbria (47% of those surveyed) support locating the Geological Disposal Facility in West Cumbria, while one quarter (26%) oppose hosting such a facility. Support for hosting a facility in West Cumbria is currently highest in Copeland (60% support) and Allerdale (50% support).
However, this is only a very early indication of public opinion.
Tim Knowles the Cumbria County Council Cabinet member responsible for environment says: “This process will rightly take a long time. The Partnership is looking in detail at all the issues, such as safety and possible benefits to the community. We will want to be completely satisfied that locating the facility will be in the best interests of the area and is supported by local people before final decisions are made. We are a long way from being able to do that yet.”
It is possible to contact the partnership for information or to arrange a presentation by calling a free helpline on 0800 048 8912 or by emailing contact@westcumbriamrws.org.uk
Full details of the Ipsos MORI survey and Information about the work of the Partnership are available at www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk
For media enquiries please contact the Partnership’s Communications Adviser Paul Gardner at Osprey Communications on 01524-782086 or 07766-906561
Notes to editors
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The research is based on a telephone survey conducted by Ipsos amongst a sample of 1,277 adults in Cumbria aged 16+ years. A disproportionately large quota sample of respondents was interviewed in Allerdale and Copeland to ensure we had a robust sample in these two areas. At the analysis stage, data were weighted back to the true population proportions across the whole of the sampling area. Quotas were set within area by age, gender and working status. Fieldwork took place between 11th to 18th November 2009. This survey is the first in a series of three to be undertaken by Ipsos MORI.
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In addition to Copeland, Allerdale and Cumbria County Council, there are a range of other organisations making up the partnership, including Barrow Borough Council, Eden District Council, South Lakeland District Council, the Lake District National Park Authority, the Cumbria Association of Local Councils, NuLeAF (the Nuclear Legacy Advisory Forum), local trade unions, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Chamber of Commerce, the West Cumbria Sites Stakeholder Group, and the West Cumbria Strategic Partnership.
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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.