To campaign against a Geological Disposal Infrastructure (“GDI”) formerly GDF for nuclear waste being located in the County of Cumbria.
[This being primarily on the grounds (amongst others) that the geology of Cumbria is unsafe and unsuitable for a GDI based upon internationally recognised guidelines and that the geology of other areas of the United Kingdom (UK) is safer and more suitable for a GDI than anywhere in Cumbria.]
For the public benefit and interest, to campaign for an independent, national (UK) geological survey to be conducted by the UK government in the national interest so as to establish the areas of the United Kingdom which are most geologically suitable and safe for a GDI to be constructed/located. In other words to put geology and safety first instead of so called “voluntarism”.
To campaign for safer, long term storage of nuclear waste (in all its forms) which is:
(i) located from time to time at Sellafield in the County of Cumbria (“SL”); and
(ii) located from time to time at other licensed nuclear sites in the UK.
[Including addressing the concerns expressed by the National Audit Office in 2012 with regard to operations at Sellafield.]
To campaign, for monies now being spent, and to be spent in the future, in the decommissioning of SL to be spent so as to benefit the County of Cumbria and more specifically the communities of the Allerdale and Copeland.
[Taking into account that such regions are acting in the national interest in currently hosting the majority of the United Kingdom’s nuclear waste but still have significant poverty, deprivation and unemployment.]
To campaign to protect the Lake District National Park, Solway Area of Outstanding National Beauty and other environmentally sensitive sites (including without limitation Special Areas of Conservation and Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and also historic sites in the County of Cumbria.
[Specifically protect from any GDI related development or impact therefrom so as to preserve such areas and the sites for the public benefit and/or the Nation.]
To respond to any local or national government consultations with regard to nuclear waste (specifically without limitation the storage and disposal thereof) or relating to a GDI, including without limitation the process known as Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (“MRWS”) and also to educate members of the public with regard thereto and to assist them in responding themselves.
To campaign for the democratically taken decisions of all Cumbrian councils or other elected (or partially elected) public bodies in Cumbria to be relevant and fundamental to the MRWS process and also fundamental to any decisions and/or rights (legal or otherwise) relating howsoever to the MRWS process (or anything similar or analogous thereto) including participation and withdrawal therefrom.
To specifically campaign for the agreement of Cumbria County Council being an essential prerequisite, in addition to the agreement of any other council in Cumbria, with regard to any step or process or decision relating howsoever to MRWS (or anything analogous thereto); such agreement being in the public benefit and interest taking into account: –
(i) that Cumbria County Council is the waste disposal authority the County of Cumbria;
(ii) the potential for any GDI to affect the whole of the County of Cumbria, whether directly or indirectly, irrespective as to where precisely in Cumbria it may be located;
(iii) Cumbria County Council has the resources and expertise needed to make any such decisions relating to waste (including nuclear waste) in the public interest, including without limitation qualified and expert personnel but also the greater financial resources (that is greater than other councils in Cumbria) to obtain independent and objective advice by instructing external experts.
To campaign for the economy of West Cumbria (specifically the areas of Copeland and Allerdale) to be further diversified for the public benefit, as much as practicable and specifically, without prejudice to the foregoing, in economic sectors other than nuclear related, bearing in mind West Cumbria’s current economic reliance on SL and that SL is in the process of being decommissioned.
To challenge legally the policy outcomes and decisions of central government and/or its departments and/or local authorities with regard to the storage, disposal and/or management of nuclear waste.
Cumbria Trust 