Councillor Joe Milburn, Leader of Allerdale Borough Council View full size original

30/01/2009 - Managing radioactive waste safely

Allerdale Borough Council has agreed to declare an expression of interest in potentially hosting a radiocative waste repository in the borough.

At a meeting of the full Council, councillors voted to give their backing to a recommendation of the Executive Committee that “without commitment” discussions be held with the Government on the issue.

Councillor Joe Milburn, Leader of Allerdale Borough Council, said: “As a Council we cannot rule out any possible opportunity that may result in more jobs and prosperity for Allerdale residents.

“That is why we are working with partners to investigate opportunities for the building of a new
nuclear plant in West Cumbria and why the Council has supported the Executive’s recommendation that we express a ‘without commitment’ interest in discussions with the
Government about potentially hosting a radioactive waste repository.

“All this means is that we are not shutting the door on the possibility. We do not have a
location in mind nor are we determined to drive ahead with no regard to public opinion.

“The next steps are to undertake a geological survey to rule out the areas where a repository could not be built and to develop ways of ensuring that every member of the community is involved in the decision process. The Council can withdraw at any stage, however we would not be able to take part in the discussions if we did not make this expression of interest.”

Councillors agreed at the meeting that the safety of people in Allerdale was the most important issue and therefore full consultation with the local community would be needed (to be funded by the Government).

It was decided that every stage or phase must be agreed by the full Council before proceeding further and that any potential site would have to be accepted by the community. Ensuring that any waste could be retrieved if needed was another important factor in the discussion.

Councillors also insisted on the guarantee that the Council had the right to withdraw from discussions at any stage up to the final commitment.

The county council, Copeland and Allerdale Borough Councils have already agreed in the Energy Coast Masterplan that they will assist in the development by DEFRA of a national framework for the siting process for an underground disposal facility for radioactive waste.

ENDS