A 'COMMUNITY partnership' has formed in Copeland to discuss where to dispose of radioactive waste in the area.

Following decisions from Copeland Borough Council and Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) to form two Community Partnerships in Copeland, the first - in Mid Copeland - has now launched.

The second proposed community partnership in South Copeland will be launched in a few weeks once details have been confirmed.

Mark Cullinan (current Chair of the Working Group) will Chair Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership until more members join and another Chair is appointed.

Mr Cullinan said: "Our first priority is to recruit other Community Partnership members, that are reflective of the area, to take forward these discussions. In Mid Copeland we’re a few weeks ahead, and therefore we’ve launched this Community Partnership first."

"In the coming months, households in the Search Area will receive further information about how to get involved and how groups can apply for Community Investment Funding. There will also be an opportunity to join other groups such as a stakeholder forum."

The two search areas recommended for the development are mid Copeland, around Seascale and Gosforth, and South Copeland, around Millom.

The area around the Lake District will be excluded from consideration, as will any existing or future coal mines.

The Community Partnerships are made up of a large number of people to discuss the possibilities of hosting a geological disposal facility (GDF).

A GDF is an underground facility designed to safely and securely dispose of higher activity radioactive waste.

District councillors within the Search Area and Parish Councils within the area of consideration are being invited to join.

Community Investment Funding is now available to projects that would benefit communities in the mid Copeland Search Area.

A suitable site and a willing community would be necessary for the construction of the GDF to go ahead. However, this could take 10 to 15 years to go ahead.

There is also potential for an underground GDF off the coast of Copeland where the coastal terrain would provide a disposal area.

The community that takes the opportunity to host a GDF will receive significant additional investment and long-term benefits for future generations, including jobs and skills.