Last updated at 12:10, Thursday, 13 September 2012

IN 28 days time, on October 11, the future of West Cumbria will be determined by the cabinet of Cumbria County Council when it decides whether or not to proceed with the Government’s programme of geological investigation in West Cumbria with a view to identifying geology suitable for the creation of a deep underground repository for the nation’s radioactive wastes.

This policy was brought forward by the last Labour government and commands a cross-party consensus.

Inexplicably, if the widespread rumours and direct conversations I have held are accurate, it now appears as if the cabinet of Cumbria County Council is going to vote against proceeding with geological investigations. Such a move would deal a vicious blow to West Cumbria and the British nuclear industry at a critical time in our development.

Approximately 70 per cent of all of the UK’s radioactive waste materials are currently held at Sellafield in interim (temporary) above-ground stores. After decades of research, it is the commonly held view that the underground storage or disposal of radioactive wastes is the best way to deal with these materials. This is the policy now adopted by other countries with a civil nuclear programme.

To be absolutely clear, the above-ground storage of these materials in stores at Sellafield is safe – now and for decades to come. But deep underground disposal is better than above-ground storage. Environmentally, in terms of safety and economically, deep underground disposal is an undeniably better policy solution than temporary above-ground storage – even if that ‘temporary’ period is for 100 years.

A repository will be better:

Environmentally – because exposure of these materials to the environment and the population will be hugely reduced.

On safety grounds – because the materials will be placed beyond the access of any individual, group or country with malicious intent.

Economically – because the ‘acceptance’ package from Government would be the single largest investment of its type in the history of West Cumbria – representing billions of pounds of investment. Alongside this, a repository would have a hugely positive impact on the nuclear industry, making major new commercial projects much more likely. In addition, the construction of a repository would be one of the largest civil engineering projects anywhere in the world.

And a repository is without question, morally better than interim storage. My grandfather’s generation didn’t know that there was a problem to solve. My father’s generation knew there was a problem but couldn’t solve it and so far, my generation has failed to address this problem, even though the solution is before us. It is morally wrong for my generation to leave this problem to our children to solve.

It has taken this community and this industry 30 years to get to this point – and the consequences for both have been negative. Turning our backs – again – on the remedy to so many of the problems we face will mean at best decades of economic deterioration and at worst, set us on the path of terminal decline.

Unlike the majority of communities in this country, we have the chance to determine our own future. This isn’t about party politics, this is about real politics. This decision will affect every man woman and child in West Cumbria and Cumbria as a whole.

West Cumbria stands at a fork in the road, the likes of which we have never seen. Saying ‘no’ seals our fate: it shows government that the County Council isn’t a serious or credible partner, it deters investment and it weakens the one industry that gives us the chance to be globally significant and successful. Saying ‘yes’ gives us the chance to build the economy we need and that our children deserve: it would show that the County Council understands the issues facing West Cumbria our major industry and other businesses, it would inspire investor confidence and ensure that our best days are ahead of us.

The cabinet of Cumbria County Council knows that West Cumbria stands at a fork in the road. It must choose the right path for the future of West Cumbria and the county as a whole – it should vote ‘yes’ to proceed with geological investigations.

First published at 11:11, Thursday, 13 September 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk