Introduction from the new Chair, Andy Pratt
Welcome to the tenth newsletter from the South Copeland GDF Community Partnership. I’m pleased to take over in the role of Partnership Chair for the next 12 months following Ged McGrath’s three-year term coming to an end in March. I’d like to thank Ged for his dedication and work on this important conversation so far.
A little about me – I live in Holmrook with my family, and I’m the Cumberland councillor for the Millom Without ward. I was previously a member of the South Copeland GDF Community Partnership (representing Cumbria Association of Local Councils), and I’m the current Chair of Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership. I’m also the Chair of Governors at Kirkland Academy, and the Chair of Drigg and Carleton Village Hall, as well as a Trustee of Drigg Young Farmers’ Club.
As Chair of both the South and Mid Copeland Partnerships, one of my main goals is to ensure the views, priorities and needs of each community are respected and considered separately.
I’ll continue to support conversations about whether South Copeland is the right place for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) – exploring what it could mean for the area, answering questions, and listening to the concerns raised.
We’re still in the early stages of the GDF programme – if a suitable site is found in Copeland by Nuclear Waste Services (NWS; a process which could take 10-15 years), a GDF could not go ahead until the Potential Host Community directly affected has had a say and taken a positive Test of Public Support.
The Community Partnership’s role is to help ensure that the community has all the relevant information they need along the way.
Following a Review earlier this year, the South Copeland GDF Community Partnership is moving forward with renewed purpose, and our focus is on engaging with all sections of the community.
This is an important potential development for people in South Copeland to consider, and I look forward to working constructively with local people and partners to explore it further.
In the newsletter, you will find an article on designing for long-term safety of a GDF, an explainer on the management of excavated material, and an update on our shared Community Visioning activities.
As always, if you have any further questions or would like to get in touch with us – our contact details and social media details are at the end of the newsletter.
Andy Pratt
Chair, South Copeland GDF Community Partnership
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