Public drop in sessions to discuss building a facility to dispose of radioactive waste in Allerdale are underway.

A group called Allerdale GDF (geological disposal facility) Working Group are hosting the sessions so people can come and say what they think about the idea

The first meeting will be on Thursday, July 22, in Thursby Village Hall, and there will be sevral more throughout July and August.

The idea of 'geological disposal' is to bury radioactive waste deep underground - something the government believes and claims is a 'permanent' method of disposal.

According to the government, A GDF is internationally recognised as the safest long-term solution for this type of waste and having one in the UK will create jobs and guaranteed investment for the host community.

The working group say they are neither for or against disposing radioactive waste in Allerdale, and will chair these public meetings and decide on the course of action after they have heard what everyone thinks.

The working Group, who are neither for nor against building a GDF in Allerdale, is independently chaired by Jocelyn Manners-Armstrong, and members include local representatives from Allerdale Borough Council, Radioactive Waste Management Ltd (RWM), Cumbria Association of Local Councils (CALC), and Genr8North Ltd – the interested party that came forward and asked for Allerdale to be considered as a potential location.

Eva Chua, the group’s community engagement manager said: “Launching the working group in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging, but I’m really pleased we can now get out into the community to have as many conversations as possible and understand what local people want for their future.

“Their views are important to us.

"We are here to listen and to provide information to encourage the community of Allerdale to take part in the discussion about GDF and what it could mean for the community.

"We want to invite everyone to come along to a drop-in near them and tell us what they think”.