In July 2008, Copeland Borough Council formally 'expressed an interest' in the DEFRA process to find a location for a nuclear waste repository. This expression of interest means that Copeland Council is willing to talk to Government about the process.

 

Following on from this 'expression of interest', we have joined together with Allerdale Borough Council, Cumbria County Council and other partners to create the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership.

 

This Partnership meets regularly with the ultimate aim of making recommendations to Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council and Cumbria County Council on whether they should participate or not in the geological disposal facility siting process, without commitment to eventually host a facility.

 

Full details of the Partnership, including all meeting reports and other documents produced can be found at www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk.

 

The content below shows Copeland Council's work prior to the formation of the West Cumbria MRWS Partnership, and is left as a useful archive. The most up-to-date content and information can be found on the Partnership website, www.westcumbriamrws.org.uk.

Copeland Council Press Releases

• 12 June 2008 - Copeland Responds to White Paper
• 25 June 2008 - Copeland Council to Express an Interest
• 4 November 2008 - Copeland Urges Joined Up Working 

Communication with Defra

• 12 June 2008 - Managing Radioactive Waste Safely - An invite to local communities
• 3 July 2008 - Expression of Interest in Managing Radioactive Waste Safely
• 11 September 2008 - Defra Response to expression of interest

Copeland Council Meeting Reports

• 24 June 2008 - Full Council expression of interest report
• 24 June 2008 - Full Council expression of interest report appendix 1 (Invite letter from Defra)
• 24 June 2008 - Full Council expression of interest report appendix 2 (summary of White Paper)
• 27 June 2006 - Full Council Draft Nuclear Policies report

Neighbourhood Forums

In the Autumn of 2008, Copeland Borough Council leader Elaine Woodburn, attended each of Cumbria County Council's Neighbourhood Forums in the borough to discuss the MRWS white paper, and Copeland Borough Council's proposed response to it.

The notes taken by Cumbria County Council at these meetings will be added to this page as soon as we have them.

Partnership Meetings

As per the White Paper recommendations, following our expression of interest to Defra, we have formed a partnership including community representatives, partner local authorities and other appropriate stakeholders. The reports of these meetings will also be included on this page.

• 18 November 2008 - Shadow Partnership Meeting Report
• 17 March 2009 - Partnership Meeting Report
• 19 February 2009 - Partnership Meeting Report
• 17 March 2009 - Partnership Meeting Report
• 14 May 2009 - Partnership Meeting Report
• 14 July 2009 - Partnership Meeting Report 

Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Working Group

Copeland Borough Council also has an internal working group, made up of Copeland Councillors and officers. This group is represented by five councillors: Cllr Elaine Woodburn (chair), Cllr Allan Holliday, Cllr John Kane, Cllr David Moore and Cllr Yvonne Clarkson.

Agendas and minutes from these meetings will also be available from this page.

Consultation Responses

Copeland Borough Council has responded to a number of consultation documents on the nuclear industry and specifically on the management of radioactive waste. The most recent of these was in November 2007, in response the to the MRWS green paper.

• Response to Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Green Paper - November 2007
• A dedicated page on our website also lists all of Copeland Council's nuclear policy responses in recent years.

 

Partners Press Releases

As appropriate, we will also link to our partners and neighbouring authorities press releases on the MRWS process.

12 June 2008 - Cumbria County Council response to White Paper.
13 June 2008 - Allerdale Borough Council response to White Paper.
9 December 2008 - Cumbria County Council to explore MRWS opportunities.
22 December 2008 - Cumbria County Council expression of interest.

Further Information

We have further information on nuclear issues on our website. This includes information on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the Government's Nuclear Energy Review and associated sustainability issues, along with links to additional nuclear industry websites.

Copeland Council Nuclear Issues pages