Nuclear dump ‘may be forced on area’
Last updated at 14:09, Friday, 20 January 2012
A SERIES of steps on a very long road which could end with the building of a massive nuclear dump in Cumbria began this week.
On Wednesday Millom was the first of 12 towns in the county to host drop-in sessions run by the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership.
People are being asked whether they think West Cumbria should be considered as a potential site for an underground nuclear waste dump.
Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council and Cumbria County Council have expressed interest to the government about finding out more about the possibility of having such a dump in the area.
If built, it could be as big as 25km squared and up to a kilometre underground.
But it is likely to be about 15 years before a suitable site is found.
Around 40 people attended the drop-in session at Millom’s Network Centre – some pro and some anti and others wanting to find out more.
Cumbria county councillor Tim Knowles, an MRWS member, said the consultation period was meant to assess people’s concerns over the possibility of a waste repository before any firm planning got under way.
He said: “This is very much a stage of having a look through the potential programme for a repository and the issues associated with it, as much as we can without a specific design and location.”
Cllr Knowles said at any point up until the beginning of construction and for some time afterwards, the local authorities had a right of veto.
Although the repository would be built in West Cumbria, groups such as South Lakeland District Council and Eden District Council were part of MRWS because the implications of the project are countywide.
Cllr Knowles said areas of Copeland and Allerdale were found to be unsuitable for the project by a British Geological Survey last year. But he said it was “irresponsible” to suggest this meant the rest of the area could not be used.
Marianne Birkby, founder of Radiation Free Lakeland, said she had grave doubts about whether a dump could be safely built underground in West Cumbria. She claimed the porous rocks and high rainfall of the area meant there was a risk of contamination of drinking water aquifers.
Martin Forwood, campaign co-ordinator for Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment, said plans to build a facility could hit “big problems”.
He said: “The community hasn’t yet decided and the local authorities haven’t decided if we should go to the next stage and look at sites and I think that is where it will hit the buffers.
“If it has got to go underground, it has got to have the very best geology and it has to be contained for hundreds of thousands of years.”
He said there was “no plan B” if the idea was rejected and the government may force a facility on the area anyway. The consultation runs until March 23.
First published at 13:10, Friday, 20 January 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
The proposal of siting a Nuclear Repository
not a dump as some misinformed people call it, is a great opportunity for creating employment prospects in the local community, especially for the younger generation,who at this time face the threat of long term unemployment in our area. I wish to point out to newcomers to our area that this area was never a tourist attraction , it was always known for its industrial roots ie Iron and ore production. Sadly since these industries have ceased there has been little chance of long term secure employment other than the nuclear industry, for which many of us are grateful.
Perhaps these people who say tourisim is the answer should go into the schools where there are hundreds of hard working children hoping to find employment in this area and say "the future is tourism". How misguided you all are. These children and many local adults are crying out for worthwhile employment. We should welcome such a rare opportunity. This development, if it goes ahead, would complement both the present Sellafield plant and the proposed new reactor for that area. I should also point out to these newcomers that we have lived here and enjoyed the benefits from the nuclear industry for over fifty years. It has helped save the whole area from mass unemployment. I dread to think where we would have been without it. To these short sighted and misguided people I say "When you decided to come to our area you were aware of our nuclear industry, so why do you complain??. The proposed plan is for a repository which will be overseen by environmentally aware professional staff at all times. This has been assured.
If you are not happy with nuclear
development in the area perhaps it would be better if you found some other location to live, and leave the people who would be grateful for employment in the nuclear industry to get on with it.
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Have your say
Dear Barry Jaqcuzzi,
You say that you do not think it is a good idea to build the Nuclear Dump beneath a large city. I am at a loss to understand why you hold this view, will you please explain the exact nature of your objection.
Posted by mike on 31 January 2012 at 21:37