By James Johnson

Last updated at 13:50, Wednesday, 16 January 2013

The campaign to stop the Ennerdale area of west Cumbria being considered as a nuclear waste store is picking up speed.

The 38 degrees petition is entitled ‘No Nuclear Dump in the Lake District’ and has gained around 5,000 signatures in the last two weeks, taking it to more than 7,300 in total.

It was initially launched following a public meeting at Ennerdale Bridge.

A letter accompanying the petition is addressed to all councillors and asks them to halt investigations into whether the site would be suitable for a nuclear dump.

The letter says: “Your constituents don’t want this and scientific evidence has already concluded the area is unsuitable.

“We are calling on you to withdraw from the process immediately.

“The Lake District in Cumbria is one of the most beautiful places in our country and an environment enjoyed by millions of people every year.

“Let’s act now to protect it.”

Cumbria County Council, as well as Copeland and Allerdale councils, vote on January 30 whether or not to move to the next stage of the nuclear waste site process.

The petition’s aim is to demonstrate to councillors that there is a strong level of opposition to the potential plans.

The group claim that a study in the 1990s found that earth in the Lake District was not suitable for a dump, that further inspection of the site will be very costly, and that there is widespread public opposition.

Geologists have suggested that the Ennerdale area has the most suitable rock for hosting a high-level nuclear waste repository.

SPAND (Solway Plain Against Nuclear Dump) called the plans “fatally flawed” and launched a petition, which has gained more than 1,300 signatures.

First published at 13:47, Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk