BILLIONS of pounds in transformative investment could flow into Copeland if it agrees to be the site of a radioactive waste disposal facility.

That's the word of the Copeland Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) Working Group, which this month is highlighting the potential benefits a GDF could bring.

The group say this could include millions of pounds of community investment funding which is triggered once a Community Partnership is formed, as well as significant additional investment, economic and employment opportunities for a community which eventually hosts a GDF.

Councillor David Moore, Copeland Council’s Portfolio Holder for Nuclear Services and a member of the Copeland GDF Working Group, said:

“This is a great opportunity for the local community to see some significant investment into the area. At its start, a community could receive up to £1million per year and this could be over a considerable period of time.

“The opportunities for this community will include setting up a local grants panel and, with the assistance of Radioactive Waste Management (RWM), will spend those funds in the community.

“By accepting these community benefits does not mean you accept a GDF - that funding is to get people involved and engaged in the process. At any time, if the community feels that it is not for them, it can withdraw.

“As investigations progress, should RWM be required to undertake invasive work, such as digging boreholes, that community funding goes up to £2.5million a year.

“This process cannot then go further without first testing public support, such as through a referendum. I would say it’s a significant opportunity.”

Mike Brophy, Radioactive Waste Management’s Head of Social Impact, said: “The commitment to this early funding arose from reviewing previous GDF discussions which ended in 2013.

"Throughout the process, people understood that the GDF would have brought massive benefits – but when the process ended, none of those benefits could be realised. Now, communities can use the investment funding before any commitment to a GDF, benefiting from engaging in the process whatever the outcome.

“This time, communities will be at the heart of the siting process for a GDF and a facility will only be built where there’s both a suitable site and a willing community.

"Many infrastructure projects create jobs, many of them highly skilled.

"What makes a GDF different, is that while the initial GDF construction phase will stretch over around 10 years and require a workforce of up to 2,000 during the peak period – the total construction and operation will take well over 100 years, employing local people and supporting businesses."

A video summarising the benefits is now available on YouTube.