Young opinions sought over nuclear waste site
Tom Kay/Mid Copeland Community PartnershipThe views of young people are being sought as part of proposals to build a new underground nuclear waste site.
The Mid Copeland Community Partnership is calling for people aged 16 to 25 to take part in a consultation about a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) in the Gosforth area of Cumbria.
The Gosforth electoral ward, which includes Seascale, Beckermet and Wasdale, is one of two potential sites in Cumbria where a hazardous waste facility could be built.
Andy Pratt, chairman of the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership, said he wanted to build on work done with the community to "shape a community vision".
"Creating a youth group to meet with the partnership will take the youth voice to the next level in discussing and debating what they think a GDF could mean for them and their area, while feeding that into our programme of activities going forward," he said.
The Mid Copeland Community Partnership, which is made up of local residents and organisations, is holding an event at Muncaster Castle on 18 February for young people who sign up to take part.
People can apply via the Mid Copeland website, where more information on the event is also available.
Nuclear Waste ServicesThe organisation is tasked with considering the GDF proposal, as well as issuing £1m of funding a year to community groups in areas earmarked as a potential site.
Mid Copeland is one of two sites shortlisted across the country.
The other is in South Copeland and the search area includes the electoral divisions of Millom and Millom Without.
The Mid Copeland Community Partnership said a GDF would require both a suitable site and a willing community, with processes to identify those and acquire the necessary permits set to take about 15 years.
The GDF design considered would see waste buried under the sea, with an overground facility on or near the coast to provide access to it.
