By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 14:32, Wednesday, 05 November 2008

Cumbria County Council looks set to volunteer Copeland as a potential site for an underground nuclear waste repository.

Controversial: The current Drigg Low Level Waste Repository site entrance

And it is backing proposals to build two new nuclear power stations immediately north west of Sellafield.

A recent government White Paper invited local authorities to volunteer to have nuclear waste buried in return for investment in roads, schools and other public services.

Copeland Council has already agreed to make a no-strings “expression of interest” in having a repository and Allerdale may follow.

The county council has sounded out various business, public sector and voluntary organisations on the idea and found opinion divided. But its cabinet says it is “minded” to table an expression of interest for Copeland “in view of the nuclear waste legacy at the Sellafield site and the need to minimise the future movement of waste”.

The Labour-led cabinet will make a final decision in December after the full council has debated the issue on November 20.

Council leader Stewart Young said: “By deferring the decision until December, while indicating we’re minded to support an expression of interest, we will able to listen to the views of members and this will inform our decision.”

Opposition Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors are unhappy that the cabinet will have the final say, not the full council.

Liberal Democrat group leader Joan Stocker said: “There has been a long tradition that, whenever nuclear issues have been discussed, decisions are taken by the full council.”

Mr Young said legal advice indicated that the decision was one for the cabinet alone. Whatever the outcome, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says it may be 2025 before a decision is taken on where a repository should be. It is unlikely to open until 2040.

The county council’s cabinet also voted yesterday to respond to a government consultation on sites for new nuclear power stations.

JWhittle@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 13:20, Wednesday, 05 November 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk