By Safira Ali

Published at 11:42, Friday, 29 August 2008

ALLERDALE should consider a nuclear repository in the borough, Cockermouth council has argued.

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Allerdale Council said it would make an “expression of interest” in hosting an underground repository to store radioactive material if the community agrees to it.

Cockermouth council members, including two from Allerdale’s executive committee, agreed Allerdale should show an interest.

The Government is asking councils to volunteer to host a nuclear dump in return for cash for community projects. Copeland Council has already expressed an interest in having a site.

The proposals are set out in its white paper Managing Radioactive Waste Safely.

On Wednesday night town councillors agreed four votes to three to recommend an expression of interest. Amongst those who voted for the interest were deputy leader Margaret Jackson and executive member Sam Standage.

Councillor Standage said: “Allerdale will have a consultation starting in September. It doesn’t hold any council to act at all. They can withdraw at any time right up to the eleventh hour.

“I think there should be expression of interest because along with everything going on there will be billions of pounds worth of socio-economic advantages for the area. It will be a similar situation to when the NDA and BNFL came to the area. We could take advantage of that but only if it is viable and safe to do so.”

Councillor Jackson said: “If you look at the white paper it says that the people who can express interest are the community and then the local authority. If the county get involved and they go to consultation and they consult with the whole county and neighbours it would include Lancashire, Scotland and Ireland. If they get a negative response to that then how can you support Allerdale and Copeland Council’s when they express interests?”

Councillor Eric Nicholson said: “As a member of Cockermouth council I would propose that we vote not to show an interest. Because of the geology it is totally inadequate for it. I have a feeling that once we do that it will be a snowball down a mountain and start rolling.

“I think it needs to be in the ground and we don’t have anywhere in this county apart from the Lake District National Park.”

Councillor Alan Smith, leader of the Labour party, decided not to vote, as he is a member of Allerdale’s nuclear task group.

He added: “There will be billions of pounds of socio-economic advantages to the area. At the moment the roads are not good. They would be improved with the economic benefits. We need it on the table to push our agenda forward.”

Four councillors were not going to vote at first because they were members of county and Allerdale Council.

Councillor Alan Kennon said: “If only three of us are going to make a decision for the whole of Cockermouth I won’t vote either.

“Cockermouth town council is not representing the town.”

Four councillors voted for the expression, including Margaret Jackson, Sam Standage, Derwent Newton and Alan Tyson. Against were Maureen Woodburn, Alan Kennon and Eric Nicholson. Christine and Alan Smith did not vote.

Allerdale Council will be asking all borough councillors to a seminar on September 11 with representatives from Defra, NDA’s waste team and the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management. They will also debate the issue at a full council meeting before deciding whether to submit interest.

SAli@cngroup.co.uk

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk