AT the end of July Copeland Borough Council submitted its response to the second stage of the NuGen Consultation.

The response document is very detailed and a huge amount of work has gone in to producing an extensive report which can be viewed in full on the CBC website or through a link on the Elected Mayor Facebook page.

Copeland remains supportive of the NuGen project but we are determined that as it progresses it delivers the community benefits to which we are entitled and that potential impacts are minimised, at the moment we feel there is a significant lack of detail and it is something we will work hard with NuGen to address.

Socio-economics and community benefits is and has been a topic of much conversation in this borough as we are host to Sellafield Ltd and the highest hazard site in Europe.

The recent national press about financial compensation being offered to those living in proximity to fracking sites has brought this to the fore again. We have been working extremely hard with all our nuclear partners to establish a new relationship based on openness and trust and will endeavour to continue to work in partnership to ensure all of Copeland benefits from having the Nuclear Industry on our doorstep.

There are obvious benefits which give Sellafield a lot of goodwill from the community in which it operates, not least the number of people that are employed there and the money that generates in the local economy, but that alone is not enough, there has to be a wider benefit that positively impacts on everyone that lives in Copeland.

There needs to be a way forward found that secures for Copeland as much of the income being generated currently and the investment in new build, we need a clear plan of how the nuclear industry can become a foundation from which we can build a diverse local economy in which new and existing businesses can thrive.

We should be a magnet for development for nuclear, engineering, innovation and a hotspot for growth for small and medium enterprises but that requires the nuclear industry to take a responsible, accountable and collaborative approach with the community, the council and the supply chain.

We also need a clearly articulated socio-economic plan which Copeland Council is happy to provide and deliver that addresses the extensive social issues and contributes to the renaissance of our town centres and local communities. That plan has been developed and we look forward to negotiating how it can be best supported by all our current and future socio-economic partners.

Our determination to address the dilapidated buildings and grot spots continues to make progress, with planning approved for a revamp of premises in Egremont Market Place and, as result of serving a planning enforcement notice on the site of the former Griffin Pub at Frizington, a plan has now been developed for the future of the site. There has been considerable progress on several other of our target areas, there will be no let-up on the pressure to deal with unsightly buildings and grot spots, we all have a responsibility for the regeneration of this borough and I am determined that it will be dealt with.

Mike Starkie, elected mayor of Copeland