By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 10:18, Wednesday, 12 December 2012

The consultation surrounding proposals to house an underground repository for nuclear waste has won two awards.

Facts: Elaine Woodburn

The West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership picked up the awards at the 2012 Chartered Institute of Public Relations North West Pride Awards which were announced on November 29.

The partnership won a Gold Award for the best external publication for the consultation pack which included a comprehensive 127-page consultation document, an eight-page overview and a DVD. It also won silver in the community relations category.

The judges acknowledged the consultation had difficult objectives and praised the package’s ability to encourage debate. Councillor Elaine Woodburn, the leader of Copeland Council, was the chairwoman of the partnership when it completed its work.

She said: “The partnership placed a high priority on giving the public the chance to find out more about this important issue and have their say.

“We’re therefore very pleased that the considerable amount of work the partnership did to communicate and engage with local people has been recognised in this way.”

The partnership included all the councils in Cumbria, the Cumbria Association of Local Councils, and organisations such as the Lake District National Park, Cumbria Tourism and the National Farmers Union. The partnership’s engagement and communications work was also supported by consultants 3KQ and Osprey Communications.

The partnership held drop-in sessions across the county, workshops and discussion groups at schools and community organisations. Its communications work included a website, press releases, advertorials in local newspapers, newsletters sent to households in West Cumbria, adverts on billboards and buses, exhibition stands, social media and a live webcast.

First published at 10:15, Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk