Latest news with #GeologicalDisposalFacility
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Lincolnshire nuclear waste storage plan thrown out after vote
Lincolnshire will not be used to store nuclear waste after the county council voted to withdraw from the Waste Services (NWS), a government body, had earmarked an area near Louth, in East Lindsey, as a possible site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).Speaking after the vote to end the talks, council leader Sean Matthews said communities had been subjected to years of "distress and uncertainty".NWS said it would take "immediate steps" to close down the consultation. NWS originally earmarked the former Theddlethorpe gas terminal site, near Mablethorpe, for a storage facility.A community partnership group was formed to open talks with local communities and government body later announced it had moved the proposed location to land between Gayton le Marsh and Great County Council today voted to follow East Lindsey District Council's decision to quit the partnership means that the project cannot progress in Lincolnshire because it does not have the required "community consent". 'Treated appallingly' Matthews, who represents Reform UK, said the authority's former Conservative administration should "hang its head in shame" for allowing the process to continue for four years."I would like to apologise to the communities who have been treated appallingly," he Conservative opposition leader Richard Davies said his party had "always listened to the community" and "led the charge to say no".Mike Crooks, from the Guardians of the East Coast pressure group, which was set up to oppose the project, said the wait for a decision had left people "unable to go on with their lives"."People haven't been able to sell their houses, to do whatever they want to do, to move on with their lives, so we are delighted they now can."In a statement, Simon Hughes, NWS siting and communities director, said it had granted £2m to support local community projects which had "left a lasting positive legacy". Analysis by Paul Murphy, BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Environment the sleepy coastal village of Theddlethorpe, the four year-long "conversation" about the disposal of radioactive material has been a source of anger, distress and least because it has taken four residents talk of their mental is largely a population of older people who retired to the coast for a bit of peace and quiet, not for a prolonged scrap with Britain's nuclear day one there was fierce and vocal opposition to the plans.I remember householders hanging plastic skeletons in their front gardens. Others just put up "for sale" strong opposition grew, despite the promise from NWS of millions of pounds of investment, skilled jobs and transformative road and rail are being asked about how and why it took the county and district councils so long to reject the proposals when public opposition was being so powerfully expressed.A similar nuclear disposal plan for East Yorkshire provoked similar furore and was kicked out by the local authority after just 28 days of public prospect of an underground nuclear disposal site in Lincolnshire appears to be dead and buried – unlike the UK's growing pile of toxic waste from nuclear power problem of finding a permanent and safe home for this deadly material is no longer Lincolnshire's issue, but it hasn't gone away. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lincolnshire councillors move to end nuclear waste talks
Councillors have moved to end talks to bury nuclear waste close to the Lincolnshire Waste Services (NWS), a government body, had earmarked an area near Louth, in East Lindsey, as a possible site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).At a meeting earlier, members of Lincolnshire County Council's overview and scrutiny management board recommended the authority's executive withdraws its involvement in the process.A final decision is due to be made at the next executive meeting on 3 June. Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Richard Davies, leader of the Conservative opposition proposed recommending the immediate withdrawal from the community partnership, following in the footsteps of East Lindsey District Council, which pulled out in said this would end ongoing uncertainty for residents."We've had five years and we still aren't informing people. We're still in this realm of probably, possibly, it may happen," he search had previously been focused on a former gas terminal in NWS later announced it had moved the proposed location of the facility to land between Gayton le Marsh and Great Conservative Councillor Lindsey Cawrey told the meeting: "Our communities have made their feelings clear and the proposal has changed significantly from what was previously suggested."David Fannin, chair of the community partnership, added: "If it had been possible to remove uncertainty, or to exercise a duty of care that mitigated the impact on the local community, I would have been more reassured about staying in the process."But, the council has spoken, local people have spoken up loudly and clearly, and we have to respect that." In a statement, Simon Hughes, siting and communities director at NWS, said: "The entire GDF siting process is based on community consent and there is an absolute requirement for any potential host community to have given its consent prior to any development being agreed."This conversation can carry on without commitment, but we will fully respect and understand any decision made by the council's executive on 3 June."The GDF would see nuclear waste being stored beneath up to 1,000m (3,300ft) of solid rock until its radioactivity had naturally areas had previously been shortlisted by NWS - Mid Copeland and South Copeland in Cumbria and Lincolnshire, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council withdraws from nuclear waste talks
A council has officially withdrawn from talks to bury nuclear waste in the Lincolnshire countryside. Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), a government body, had earmarked an area near Louth, in East Lindsey, as a possible site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). At a meeting on Wednesday, East Lindsey District Council's executive board unanimously agreed to end its involvement in the process. A spokesperson for NWS said: "We acknowledge and accept the decision made by East Lindsey District Council." In 2021, the district council joined a community partnership group with NWS to examine a previous proposal to bury waste at a former gas terminal in Theddlethorpe, near Mablethorpe. However, NWS later announced it had moved the proposed location of the facility to land between Gayton le Marsh and Great Carlton. East Lindsey councillors said the new location was prime agricultural land and significantly different from the former gas terminal site. Council leader Craig Leyland told the meeting the proposed site would have a "detrimental impact on the countryside", adding that the council's involvement in the process had "antagonised and distressed" local communities and residents. "We have come to a decision point where we feel the best option for us to support our local communities is actually to withdraw from the process," he added. Councillor Adam Grist, portfolio holder for market towns and rural economy, said: "We were right to enter the discussions however many years ago, and we are right to withdraw now. "I think the goalposts clearly moved this year," he added. Lincolnshire County Council remains in the process, but leader Councillor Martin Hill said the authority shared some of ELDC's concerns about the new location. The authority has indicated it would pull out of talks unless it received "significant" further information about the proposals. The GDF would see nuclear waste being stored beneath up to 1,000m (3,300ft) of solid rock until its radioactivity had naturally decayed. Three areas had previously been shortlisted by NWS - Mid Copeland and South Copeland in Cumbria and Lincolnshire, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Council leader prepares to end nuclear waste talks Nuclear waste plan 'would scar Lincolnshire Wolds' Protesters step up pressure over nuclear talks East Lindsey District Council Nuclear Waste Services Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
East Lindsey District Council withdraws from nuclear waste talks
A council has officially withdrawn from talks to bury nuclear waste in the Lincolnshire Waste Services (NWS), a government body, had earmarked an area near Louth, in East Lindsey, as a possible site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).At a meeting on Wednesday, East Lindsey District Council's executive board unanimously agreed to end its involvement in the process.A spokesperson for NWS said: "We acknowledge and accept the decision made by East Lindsey District Council." In 2021, the district council joined a community partnership group with NWS to examine a previous proposal to bury waste at a former gas terminal in Theddlethorpe, near NWS later announced it had moved the proposed location of the facility to land between Gayton le Marsh and Great Lindsey councillors said the new location was prime agricultural land and significantly different from the former gas terminal leader Craig Leyland told the meeting the proposed site would have a "detrimental impact on the countryside", adding that the council's involvement in the process had "antagonised and distressed" local communities and residents."We have come to a decision point where we feel the best option for us to support our local communities is actually to withdraw from the process," he Adam Grist, portfolio holder for market towns and rural economy, said: "We were right to enter the discussions however many years ago, and we are right to withdraw now."I think the goalposts clearly moved this year," he added. Lincolnshire County Council remains in the process, but leader Councillor Martin Hill said the authority shared some of ELDC's concerns about the new authority has indicated it would pull out of talks unless it received "significant" further information about the GDF would see nuclear waste being stored beneath up to 1,000m (3,300ft) of solid rock until its radioactivity had naturally areas had previously been shortlisted by NWS - Mid Copeland and South Copeland in Cumbria and Lincolnshire, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lincolnshire nuclear waste: council leader prepares to end talks
Lincolnshire County Council will pull out of talks to bury nuclear waste in the area unless it receives "significant" further information about the plan, the leader of the authority has Martin Hill called on Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) to "comprehensively explain the benefits and costs" of the proposal for a Geological Disposal Facility at a site near Louth.A formal decision to withdraw, which could be taken by the council's executive, would effectively put an end to the said the long-term benefits of the GDF would include "local workforce opportunities" and "improvements to local transport and infrastructure". But the government body requires "a willing community" in order to go other sites, both in Cumbria, are also under GDF would see nuclear waste being stored beneath up to 1,000m (3,300ft) of solid rock until its radioactivity had naturally 2021, Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) formed a community partnership group with NWS and East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) to examine the that stage, a former gas terminal in Theddlethorpe, near Mablethorpe, was being considered for a surface facility, which would provide access to a storage area extending 22km (14 miles) under the in January this year, NWS said it had moved the proposed location of the surface facility to land between Gayton le Marsh and Great month, ELDC withdrew from the scheme, stating that it would "scar" agricultural said LCC joined with "an open mind, knowing that residents themselves could make the decision as to whether it was right for the area".However, moving the potential site had "changed the very nature of the proposal and raised further concerns within the local community"."We had planned to put the decision on whether to remain within the partnership to a public vote next year, but it has become increasingly apparent that the community is getting frustrated with the uncertainty and slow pace of this process," Hill said."Unless NWS can provide significant further details about their plans that would reassure the local community and comprehensively explain the benefits and costs, it is my intention to withdraw from the process altogether."This will need to be a formal decision, taken at a meeting of the council's executive." Simon Hughes, NWS siting and communities director, said: "We understand LCC's current position. "LCC has advocated for residents to have the opportunity to have access to the information they need to make an informed decision about hosting a GDF."Mr Hughes said NWS had "held many public events" and "met regularly with local people and stakeholders". It had also granted more than £2m to community cited long-term potential benefits, including "providing the community with significant opportunities for a local workforce, skills and education" and "improvements to local transport and infrastructure".Mike Crookes, who chairs the campaign group Guardians of the East Coast said: "There's been a litany of LCC in particular just kicking the can down the road and trying to elongate this process."We are a bit reticent of overwhelmingly saying 'hip hip hooray'." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
