This petition was previously known as LAKE DISTRICT COAST AND IRISH SEA ARE UNDER THREAT FROM 175 YEAR NUCLEAR MINE OPERATIONS.
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We demand a full vote and debate in Cumberland Council on the issue of an under-seabed nuclear waste facility (dump) off the coast of West Cumbria.

The Issue
There’s a democracy problem in West Cumbria. Four Copeland Councillors invited Nuclear Waste Services to identify potential locations for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) (nuclear waste dump) under the local sea bed. Just four.

No mandate
Although the old district councils have now been replaced with the new unitary authorities, no debate or vote has taken place within Cumberland Council as to whether or not to continue with the search. Cumbria County Council was vehemently against the idea, as the geology of Cumbria has been proven multiple times to be unsuitable.

The apparent disregard for democracy is a serious voter concern.

Locally rejected
Meanwhile, residents of areas of focus and areas of interest have rejected the plans, wholesale, and even Millom Town Council has withdrawn from the process.

But while Cumberland Council remains a relevant Public Local Authority, still engaged with the process, seemingly without mandate, the search continues.

We need democracy at a local level
Whether you agree or disagree with the idea of a GDF as a solution for nuclear waste, we all need meaningful local democracy. An infrastructure project of this size deserves an exemplary democratic process, and a full debate and vote are the minimum actions that the Council should take.

The petition
We, the undersigned, including residents, Council taxpayers and electors of Cumberland in Cumbria, UK, call upon Cumberland Council to schedule a debate at a specially convened meeting of Full Council on the question of whether Cumberland Council:

1. Continues to support Nuclear Waste Services in its investigations to identify potential locations for a Geological Disposal Facility for nuclear wastes in either the Mid- or South Copeland Search Areas and

2. Continues to remain a partner in the two Community Partnerships.

This debate to be followed by a vote in which all elected members be invited to vote yes or no to continuing these arrangements, with a majority no vote signifying that Cumberland Council withdraws its support and withdraws from membership of the two Community Partnerships, ending the process. 

 

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Additional information
Cumberland Council in Cumbria is unique: it became a ‘Partner’ in the UK’s nuclear dump proposal with no debate or full council vote.

Other areas persuaded to go into Partnership with the developer, Nuclear Waste Services, later held full council debates and a vote.

South Holderness and Theddlethorpe in Lincolnshire voted against the plans, despite the £2 Million per year proffered by NWS. The money looks like a bribe, despite its social enterprise trappings.

The beautiful and fragile Cumbrian coastline and already vulnerable ocean is threatened by the biggest UK infrastructure project ever.

Here’s what it looks like right now: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disturbance
Once begun, this construction site would be active for 100+ years with massive industrial sprawl, the transport of highly radioactive materials, and pollution. Nuclear power is now on the rise again in the UK – more waste will be produced than originally planned (unless new reactor builds are stopped).

Mine shafts on the Cumbrian coast would be tunnelled by giant tunnel-boring machines leading to a mined-out void 36km square.

The size of the proposed GDF is to dissipate enormous heat from widely spaced-out containers of highly radioactive nuclear wastes, currently stacked together and kept cool by millions of gallons of fresh water a day from Wastwater and the rivers Ehen and Calder.

 

 

 

 

Image: Wastwater

Loss of current industries
Tourism is Cumbria’s biggest industry, closely followed by Farming and despite ongoing pressures both these industries support tens of thousands of people, many in the Cumberland Council area.

Both tourism and farming stand to be heavily impacted by the presence of a high-level nuclear waste dump under the Cumbrian coastline and ocean. The reputation of the area might be unrecoverable, and nobody holidays here for the industrial skyline.

Environmental
This area is a haven for multiple endangered species up and down the coastal areas and rivers, including natterjack toads, freshwater pearl mussels, and Atlantic salmon. There are many prehistoric and historically significant sites close to the beaches, including in the areas proposed for the above-ground works.

Despite repeated requests, none of the parties involved in the plans for the GDF have supplied Environmental Impact Assessments.

Report on general impacts
Communities were promised a Report on General Impacts to be delivered by Spring 2024, but this has not been forthcoming.

Where is this planned?

The Lake District coast adjacent to the National Park.

There are many more issues than the few listed above. For more information, go to:

Lakes Against Nuclear Dump 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Mid-Copeland Community Partnership Area of Focus.” Despite Sellafield, the biggest industrialised mass in the North West or an "atomic carbuncle" as Wainwright called it, this is an ancient and beautiful area with Viking hoards, stone circle and Abbey.

"South Copeland Community Partnership Areas of Focus" are rising up against the plan to host the access mine shafts and associated industrial sprawl for a sub-sea nuclear dump in their beautiful and historic area.