A vote on whether Allerdale council should continue participating in the siting of a nuclear waste facility is set to take place tomorrow.
Allerdale is one of the regions being considered for the siting of a geological disposal facility, or GDF.
The facility would dispose of higher-level radioactive waste by keeping it deep underground.
The council’s executive will hear a report on Community Partnerships before deciding whether or not they want to create one for the siting process in Allerdale.
A Community Partnership is a longer-term group tasked with consulting the public and discussing the possibilities of hosting GDF in the area. The GDF siting process requires the forming of a Community Partnership to move forward.
Partnerships can only be formed with the co-operation of at least one principal local authority.
It will be the group’s role to take the conversation forward with reference to the Search Area identified, an area of land identified for closer consideration.
Nik Hardy, assistant chief executive for policy, performance and economic strategy, has produced a report to be discussed.
The report said: “Membership of a Community Partnership does not indicate that the council or a local community is willing to host a GDF.
“The decision to host a GDF does not need to be taken until much later in the process but it does permit a more detailed discussion around geological disposal to take place.
“The formation of a Community Partnership would signify the start of Community Investment Funding in the area. An initial sum of £1m per year will be made available, which could be used to fund projects, schemes and initiatives to drive the economic development of the area, improve the local environment, or the community’s wellbeing.
“Community Investment Funding would rise to £2.5m per year if deep borehole investigations take place to assess geological suitability within the Search Area.”
The electoral wards in the proposed search area are:
- Aspatria
- Broughton St Bridgets
- Dalton
- Ellen & Gilcrux
- Flimby
- Harrington & Salterbeck
- Maryport North
- Maryport South
- Moorclose & Moss Bay
- Seaton & Northside
- St John’s (Workington)
- St Michael’s (Workington)
- Stainburn & Clifton
Allerdale and Copeland Green Party member Jill Perry said: “I think it would be shocking if Allerdale decided to go ahead without consulting the community. It is supposed to be a community-led process but we have no idea if the community wants to be part of it.
“In fact in my parish of Gilcrux we know about 90 per cent do not want it.
“We do not want to be locked into the process for 10-16 years before we can say no. We know that some other communities are petitioning to stay out of the process too.”
The meeting of the executive is open to the public and begins at 4pm in the SEN Centre at Lakes College.
