The Allerdale GDF Community Partnership has announced changes to its ‘Search Area’ which will come into effect from April.

The search area is land within which Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) will look for potential sites for surface facilities to support the development of a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) deep in suitable rock beyond the coast of Allerdale.

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

The community partnership will be reducing the size of the search area and, because of the policy requirement to match boundaries with electoral wards, have decided to introduce this on April 1 to align with the new Cumberland Authority.

The new search area will comprise of the eight Cumberland wards of Dearham and Broughton; Maryport North, Maryport South, Harrington, Mossbay and Moorside, Seaton, St John’s and Clifton, St Michaels.

NWS will carry out evaluations of any potential sites using the published siting factors that cover Safety and Security, Community, Environment, Engineering Feasibility, Transport and Value for Money. Further evaluations may take place in the future as the programme increases in detail and complexity. 

Allerdale GDF Community Partnership Chair Mary Bradley said: “There’s on-going work by Nuclear Waste Services to better understand the suitability of the area. The Partnership has considered a range of information, this included data about the geology, physical features and environmental factors of the area and the adjacent inshore area, off the coast.

READ MORE: New members join Allerdale GDF Community Partnership for nuclear waste talks

“We’ve had some great engagement with local people over the past year and have been able to distribute £1 million to 28 community projects. As our second year begins, I would like to thank those who’ve joined the conversation so far and encourage others to get involved in the conversation about whether or a GDF is right for the area.”

The Allerdale GDF Community Partnership will be continuing its work to engage with local people, provide information and answer questions, and anyone with comments or concerns is encouraged to contact the Community Partnership on 0300 369 0000 or email gdfinfo-allerdale@nda.gov.uk.

The next community engagement event will take place on March, 17 and 18 with an exhibition at the Dunmail Park in Workington. 

READ MORE: Backlash from Green Party over Allerdale GDF Search Area