People are wanted to join a partnership investigating if a part of Copeland could host an underground radioactive waste facility.
The Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership is looking for new members who live or work in the area – which includes the electoral wards of Gosforth & Seascale and Beckermet.
The partnership would like to expand its membership with people from the farming and tourism industries, plus those in the youth sector – to lead discussions with local people, hearing views, while also feeding back information from the Partnership.
Community partnerships are long-term groups made up of local people, the developer of the geological disposal facility, known as a GDF, and local authorities to consider the possibilities of hosting such a facility.
Community Partnership chair Andy Pratt said: “We want to help ensure all voices are heard as we take forward discussions as to whether Mid Copeland could be suitable to host a GDF.
“We would like to continue to develop a community partnership which is reflective of the local area and encourage anyone who lives or works in Mid Copeland, who has the knowledge and skills to engage with people in one of these sectors, to consider joining us.
“It’s an open-ended recruitment programme, membership will continue to evolve as the partnership progresses and there may also be other future opportunities to be further involved.”
A drop-in session for anyone interested in discussing becoming a member has been organised for Saturday, November 5, in Seascale Golf Club, from noon to 4pm.
The GDF programme requires both a suitable site and a willing community. Deep geology beyond the coast is being considered for siting the underground elements of a GDF. This means a surface facility on, or near, the coast would provide access to a disposal area deep in rock beyond the coast.
If a suitable site is found in Copeland – a process which could take 10 to 15 years – a decision to develop a GDF in Mid Copeland could not be taken until the community in the electoral wards directly affected has had a say and taken a positive Test of Public Support.
For more information and an application form go to the website https://midcopeland.workinginpartnership.org.uk/get-involved/join-us/
