Councillors move to end nuclear waste talks

Councillors have moved to end talks to bury nuclear waste close to the Lincolnshire coast.

Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), a government body, had earmarked an area near Louth, in East Lindsey, as a possible site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).

At a meeting earlier, members of Lincolnshire County Council's overview and scrutiny management board recommended the authority's executive withdraws its involvement in the process.

A final decision is due to be made at the next executive meeting on 3 June.

Speaking at the meeting, Richard Davies, leader of the Conservative opposition proposed recommending the immediate withdrawal from the community partnership, following in the footsteps of East Lindsey District Council, which pulled out in April.

He said this would end ongoing uncertainty for residents.

"We've had five years and we still aren't informing people. We're still in this realm of probably, possibly, it may happen," he said.

The search had previously been focused on a former gas terminal in Theddlethorpe.

However, NWS later announced it had moved the proposed location of the facility to land between Gayton le Marsh and Great Carlton.

Fellow Conservative councillor Lindsey Cawrey told the meeting: "Our communities have made their feelings clear and the proposal has changed significantly from what was previously suggested."

David Fannin, chair of the community partnership, added: "If it had been possible to remove uncertainty, or to exercise a duty of care that mitigated the impact on the local community, I would have been more reassured about staying in the process.

"But, the council has spoken, local people have spoken up loudly and clearly, and we have to respect that."

In a statement, Simon Hughes, siting and communities director at NWS, said: "The entire GDF siting process is based on community consent and there is an absolute requirement for any potential host community to have given its consent prior to any development being agreed.

"This conversation can carry on without commitment, but we will fully respect and understand any decision made by the council's executive on 3 June."

The GDF would see nuclear waste being stored beneath up to 1,000m (3,300ft) of solid rock until its radioactivity had naturally decayed.

Three areas had previously been shortlisted by NWS - Mid Copeland and South Copeland in Cumbria and Lincolnshire, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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