The leader of East Lindsey District Council says the first contact he had with the Government Agency behind a potential nuclear waste dump in Theddlethorpe was completely by chance. Radioactive Waste Management told Lincolnshire Live that it initially discussed the idea of re-using the former gas terminal as a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) with ELDC in mid-2019. However, council leader Craig Leyland told us that this was a “random chance encounter” at a conference. He said: “Yes, I attended the Local Government Association conference and visited the RWM stall in the exhibitors’ area. “This was not an arranged meeting. I viewed their stand as an attendee of the conference during a break. “It was a random chance encounter. It was of interest because of the mapping on display showing the Lincolnshire coast.

Lincolnshire Live 30th July 2021 read more »

Southend-on-Sea, Essex, is the county’s most populous area, with more people living in the borough than anywhere else, but it’s a different story when you go to one of its most easterly points. Once you pass Shoeburyness, the area becomes almost entirely uninhabited. A series of islands, including Foulness Island and Wallasea Island, are situated here. They’re mostly marshy, boggy areas, but a few people still leave there. A number of these islands are or have been owned by the government’s Ministry of Defence, who use this area for a variety of purposes, including as a shooting range. One of these islands is Potton Island. This island is mostly uninhabited, separated from the mainland by a thin creek only navigable via a small bridge which leads to the village of Great Wakering. In the 1800s, it was used as farmland until a major flood left the island abandoned. It was restored in the 1940s, and fell under the control of the Ministry of Defence in the 1950s before being turned back into a space for pasture and farmland. Documents released in 2005, after decades of secrecy, outlined areas the British government had earmarked for dumping nuclear waste in the 1980s and 1990s. Whilst any dumping would have been done in managed and safe ways, it’s still concerning to know that areas across Britain were being earmarked as graves for radioactive waste. Waste could have potentially been buried on Potton Island, and pedestrian access onto it possibly restricted completely. Southend Borough Council reportedly had no idea that Potton Island was on the government’s list of potential dumping locations, and were shocked when they found out it was on the shortlist.

Essex Live 31st July 2021 read more »

Government agency first spoke to a Lincs council about dumping nuclear waste two years ago. It wanted to “encourage interested parties and local communities to come forward and engage on the subject of geological disposal”. The Government agency behind a potential nuclear waste dump in Lincolnshire has revealed it first spoke to East Lindsey District Council about the concept of burying radioactive rubbish deep underground back in mid-2019. Radioactive Waste Management also confirmed that the idea of re-using the former gas terminal at Theddlethorpe as a Geological Disposal Facility’ (GDF) was initially discussed with ELDC and Lincolnshire County Council last year.

Lincolnshire Live 29th July 2021 read more »

Over 1,500 people have signed a petition to say no to plans to store nuclear waste underground on the Lincolnshire coast. Plans emerged to dispose of nuclear waste at a site near Mablethorpe this week, as Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) said it was in “early discussions” with Lincolnshire County Council about using the former ConocoPhillips Gas Terminal in Theddlethorpe as a Geological Disposal Facility, but that no decisions had been made. Lincolnshire County Council Leader Martin Hill claimed it was only 10 days ago they had a presentation from the firm, and that it was the first time they’d had a meeting with them. He also said a “binding” local referendum would be held and “if it’s a no, that’s the end of it”, according to the BBC.

Lincolnite 29th July 2021 read more »

We will be in Whitehaven on Saturday 30th July to show RESISTANCE to the Government’s renewed push to “Deliver” a dangerous, deep nuclear dump.The so-called “Copeland Working Group” will be holding a “drop in” session to promote the “Delivery” plan – ironically at the Traders Day Market. There is nothing more likely to poison Cumbrian produced food and drink than a deep nuclear waste dump leaking into the sea and the land.

Radiation Free Lakeland 27th July 2021 read more »

The public will have the final say on any plans to dispose of nuclear waste in a Lincolnshire village, the county council’s leader has said. A proposal to use a former gas terminal in Theddlethorpe, near Mablethorpe, as a storage area was revealed on Friday. Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said a “binding” local referendum would be held and “if it’s a no, that’s the end of it”. The government agency behind the idea said no decisions had been taken. The proposal by Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) would see nuclear waste from the UK being stored underneath up to 1,000m of solid rock at Theddlethorpe until its radioactivity had naturally decayed. RWM said it was also investigating sites under the North Sea and in Cumbria.

BBC 27th July 2021 read more »

Nuclear waste from across the UK could be disposed of in Lincolnshire, a government agency has said. Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) said it was in “early discussions” with Lincolnshire County Council but local people would “have the final say”. The firm has identified two potential sites, one off the North Sea coast and one at a former gas terminal in Theddlethorpe, near Mablethorpe. The county council said it was awaiting more detail. Steve Reece, head of siting at RWM, said they were talking to the authority to see if they were interested in joining a local working group. “Absolutely no decisions have been taken at this stage,” he said.

BBC 24th July 2021 read more »

People living in a Lincolnshire village will be “shell-shocked” at proposals to dispose of nuclear waste at a nearby site, a resident has said. Radioactive Waste Management (RWM), a government agency, confirmed last week it was in “early discussions” with the county council about the move. One of the potential UK sites for the waste is at a former gas terminal in Theddlethorpe, near Mablethorpe. Villager Brian Swift said news of the proposal had emerged “out of nowhere”. RWM’s proposal for a Geological Disposal Facility could mean nuclear waste from the UK being stored underneath up to 1,000m of solid rock at Theddlethorpe until its radioactivity has naturally decayed. Steve Reece, head of siting at RWM, said while the firm was talking to the county council to see if it was interested in joining a local working group, “absolutely no decisions have been taken at this stage”.

BBC 26th July 2021 read more »

A Government agency has identified a former gas terminal on the Lincolnshire coast as a potential nuclear waste dump. Radioactive Waste Management is in talks with Lincolnshire County Council about a ‘Geological Disposal Facility’ site at Theddlethorpe. Waste would be stored as deep as 1,000 metres underground as its radioactivity diminishes – which could take 1,000 years or more. Such a facility is said to support more than 500 jobs annually and pump millions of pounds into the community. Steve Reece, head of siting at Radioactive Waste Management, said: “Radioactive Waste Management Ltd is in early discussions with Lincolnshire County Council to see if they are interested in joining a local working group.

Lincolnshire Live 26th July 2021 read more »

Following the announced proposals for nuclear waste across the UK to be disposed of in Lincolnshire, residents across the county have had their say. Radioactive Waste Management is in “early talks” with Lincolnshire County Council about a former gas terminal site at Theddlethorpe which could become the potential waste ground. It’s been suggested people in the community will have the ‘final say’, so Lincolnshire Live asked what they thought of the recent news. Katherin Mary Barker said: “My understanding is the planning permission for the site was only granted originally with the stipulation that when the gas fields were depleted it had to be returned to agricultural land. “It could in my opinion be added on to the already existing nature reserve at Crook Bank enhancing our environment, not the reverse. “Lincolnshire coast is predominantly a tourist attraction with numerous caravan parks, holiday homes and hotels. This proposal would potentially destroy this in my opinion. Sara Bright said: “It’s not a case of storing high-level radioactive waste – that happens in many places. “The motivation is to bury the waste, seal and forget with no ongoing maintenance needed. What could possibly go wrong?” Jen Page said: “We have important wildlife along our coast. Seals regularly birth along our coast. How will this pollution affect them? “Some beaches don’t allow dogs….yet nuclear waste possibly ending up on our beaches is acceptable?” Gordon Bryan Turner said: “This is the most stupid idea, nuclear waste needs to be stored in granite or other hard stone, the geology is not correct, we live in a sandstone area which is not water sound, therefore, any leak would pollute the watercourse.”

Lincolnshire Live 26th July 2021 read more »

Nuclear waste from all over the UK could be dumped on the Lincolnshire coast if plans get the go ahead. A Government agency has identified a former gas terminal on the Lincolnshire coast in Theddlethorpe as a potential new dumping site. The site, should it be approved, will support 500 jobs and bring millions of pounds to the community and will be located on the plot of a former gas terminal, reports Lincolnshire Live. Currently, Lincolnshire County Council are in talks with Radioactive Waste Management Ltd to assess the possibility of such a site.

Grimsby Telegraph 26th July 2021 read more »

The leader of Lincolnshire County Council said last week was the first time he had heard about the details of new plans to dispose of nuclear waste at a site near Mablethorpe, after opposition councillors accused his party of “secrecy” over the proposals. Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) confirmed it is in “early discussions” with Lincolnshire County Council about using the former ConocoPhillips Gas Terminal in Theddlethorpe as a Geological Disposal Facility — but said no decisions had been made. The move would see waste transported in and stored up to 1,000 metres below ground in solid rock.

The Lincolnite 26th July 2021 read more »

A Tale of Two Images! On the same day that Copeland Working Group’s Newsletter Shows the Neat Graphic of a GDF, the presenter Simon Reeves inadvertently shows what a deep geological nuclear dump would actually mean for the “willing community” who would sell their soul to host the above ground “facilities.” Spoiler alert -the reality would be nothing like the neat clean graphic!

Radiation Free Lakeland 24th July 2021 read more »

One of the most significant hazards at Dounreay has been removed in a 40-hour operation, using cutting-edge tools designed and made in Caithness. Around 1810 litres of radioactive sodium coolant (some 1.7 tonnes) remaining in a “heel” pool at the base of the reactor vessel in the Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) has been pumped out. It paves the way for the next step in the decommissioning of PFR to take place. The project has been described as “Dounreay at its best”, and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) says it showcases the high-quality design and engineering skills available in Caithness-based companies. The DSRL project team worked closely with the supply chain to develop an innovative technical solution to the removal of the sodium. Since the heel was difficult to access, a flexible 65m long pumping and camera system that could operate in temperatures of several hundred degrees had to be designed, manufactured and tested.

John O’Groat Journal 19th July 2021 read more »

The following letter has been sent to Thursby Parish Hall who are hosting the first of the “drop in” sessions by the self selected Allerdale Working Group. The Allerdale Working Group are working towards Implementation of a Deep Nuclear Dump under Cumbria. Ironically Thursby Village Hall was in the news last year as locals were filling the village hall bins with garden waste. If Thursby, near Carlisle, hosts this propaganda they are inviting more than a few “shocking” waste garden clippings. …”Thursby Parish Hall issues plea after committee member and caretaker make ‘shocking’ discovery”

Radiation Free Lakeland 20th July 2021 read more »