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| Cumbria councils vote over nuclear waste project | Cumbria councils vote over nuclear waste project |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A vote is being held on whether to go ahead with a search for a site to store high level nuclear waste. | |
| Executive members of Cumbria County and one of either Allerdale or Copeland Borough Councils must agree if "Stage 4" of the process is to go ahead. | Executive members of Cumbria County and one of either Allerdale or Copeland Borough Councils must agree if "Stage 4" of the process is to go ahead. |
| This would include detailed geological investigations and discussions over the social and economic implications. | This would include detailed geological investigations and discussions over the social and economic implications. |
| Even if the £12bn underground repository is approved, construction is not expected to begin before 2025. | Even if the £12bn underground repository is approved, construction is not expected to begin before 2025. |
| Cumbria is the only area still considering such a facility. | Cumbria is the only area still considering such a facility. |
| Nuclear power is seen as an essential part of the government's environmental plan to tackle climate change. | |
| The government appears willing to offer firms sufficient cash to build one or more new nuclear stations. | |
| The missing piece of the jigsaw is the other long-standing environmental question - where to put the UK's nuclear waste? | |
| Experts generally agree that deep burial is the best long-term solution. | |
| But Cumbria is the only area in the UK that has volunteered to consider hosting an underground store. | |
| The region already faces a threat from above-ground waste stored in decaying holders which MPs said presented "intolerable risks" to people and the environment. | |
| But there are still doubts about whether the geology will present a suitable underground alternative. | |
| If an appropriate site can be found, experts say the risks will be greatly reduced. But the tourists so vital for the region may not see it that way. | |
| Dungeness in Kent, which had initially shown interest, withdrew at the end of 2012 in the face of opposition from residents. | Dungeness in Kent, which had initially shown interest, withdrew at the end of 2012 in the face of opposition from residents. |
| Currently, radioactive waste is stored above ground in various "long-term temporary" sites around the UK, mostly at Sellafield in Cumbria. | Currently, radioactive waste is stored above ground in various "long-term temporary" sites around the UK, mostly at Sellafield in Cumbria. |
| Unions representing workers in the nuclear industry have expressed support for studies to go ahead. | Unions representing workers in the nuclear industry have expressed support for studies to go ahead. |
| Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of Prospect, said: "Not only does the vote have vast implications for the economic wealth of West Cumbria, which relies so heavily on the nuclear industry for jobs and growth, it potentially casts a shadow over any nuclear renaissance in the UK." | Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of Prospect, said: "Not only does the vote have vast implications for the economic wealth of West Cumbria, which relies so heavily on the nuclear industry for jobs and growth, it potentially casts a shadow over any nuclear renaissance in the UK." |
| However, the Lake District National Park Authority is concerned that an underground nuclear waste repository would impact negatively upon the tourist industry, which is currently worth an estimated £2bn annually. | However, the Lake District National Park Authority is concerned that an underground nuclear waste repository would impact negatively upon the tourist industry, which is currently worth an estimated £2bn annually. |
| Cumbria County Council and Copeland Borough Council vote at 10:00 GMT, and Allerdale Borough Council at 15:00 GMT. | Cumbria County Council and Copeland Borough Council vote at 10:00 GMT, and Allerdale Borough Council at 15:00 GMT. |
| Are you in Cumbria? What do you think of the nuclear waste project? Please send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Cumbria? What do you think of the nuclear waste project? Please send us your comments using the form below. |