SENIOR councillors from three Cumbrian local authorities were today making crunch decisions on whether or not to stay in the running to house a proposed nuclear storage facility.

Cumbria County, Allerdale and Copeland councils were all voting on whether to proceed from Stage Three to Stage Four of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely process to assess suitable sites for the underground repository in the west of the county.

The decision has attracted a groundswell of protest with several grassroots campaigns and petitions springing up in recent months.

A number of questions were submitted to all three authorities ahead of today’s meetings – with around 40 received by the county council.

Councillor Eddie Martin, the leader of Cumbria County Council, said that the county council’s cabinet meeting was being held in public but it was not a public meeting – “still less a public debate”.

He added: “As such it is bound by rules and regulations; our Constitution. Any deviation from that Constitution can only be made at the chairman’s discretion.

“Normally, 30 minutes would be allowed for questions. I have decided to extend that to 60 minutes.”

A council spokesman said that the important decision was not a decision on whether Cumbria should have a repository or not, it was a decision on whether to progress to the next stage of geological research.

He added: “The decision will be also be dependent on the two district councils as each area needs to have a green light from both tiers of local government, county and district, to proceed.”

The county council meeting is being held at The Courts in Carlisle. Because of the number of questions, they are being asked in one block and the issues raised are being answered by Councillor Tim Knowles who is the Cabinet member for environment.

After giving his answers he is setting out the various options that Cabinet can consider – with members giving their opinions on what is the preferred option.

The options are then being debated with the proposed preferred option either being agreed. If there is no agreement other options will be put to a vote.

A similar process is being followed by Cabinet members at both Allerdale and Copeland councils.

The underground facility would be as big as Carlisle and the progression from Stage Three to Stage Four of the process will involve tests to fully assess the suitability of selected sites in the west of the county.

Engineers have said it would be a bigger construction challenge than Channel Tunnel, it would involve tunnelling between 200 and 1000 metres into the ground and around 1000 construction workers would be needed to build it.

It is estimated that it would take 15 years to complete – at a projected cost of between £12 billion and £20 billion.

The waste would need to be stored for tens of thousands of years and it is understood that the work could begin in 2025 with completion by 2040.

Leading debates at the meetings

CUMBRIA County Council has 84 councillors led by a 10-person cross-party cabinet which will meet at The Courts, Carlisle, at 10am today.

The cabinet members are:

• Eddie Martin, council leader – division: Dearham and Broughton;
• Stewart Young, deputy leader – division: Upperby, Carlisle;
• James Airey, the portfolio holder for adult social care – division: Ulverston;
• Anne Burns, the portfolio holder for children’s social care – division: Hindpool, Barrow;
• Duncan Fairbairn, the portfolio holder schools and learning – division: Bowness, Thursby and Caldbeck;
• Tim Knowles, the portfolio holder for transport and environment – division: Cleator Moor North and Frizington;
• Elizabeth Mallinson, the portfolio holder for organisational development – division: Stanwix Urban, Carlisle;
• Tony Markley, the portfolio holder for economy and highways – division: Solway Coast;
• Oliver Pearson, the portfolio holder for stronger communities – division: Old Barrow;
• Gary Strong, the portfolio holder for community safety and local Services – division: Penrith Rural.

ALLERDALE Council has 56 councillors and is led by a seven-person Labour executive which will meet at The Wave Centre, Maryport, at 3pm today.

Its members are:

• Alan Smith, the council leader – ward: Cockermouth;
• Barbara Cannon, deputy council leader – ward: Moss Bay, Workington;
• Mark Fryer – ward: Stainburn, Workington;
• Michael Heaslip – ward: St John’s, Workington;
• Carl Holding – ward: St Michael’s, Workington;
• Carni McCarron-Holmes – ward: Ewanrigg, Maryport;
• Philip Tibble – ward: Clifton.

COPELAND Council has 51 councillors and is led by a seven-person executive which will meet at the Copeland Centre, Whitehaven, at 10am today.

Its members are:

• Elaine Woodburn, council leader – ward: Egremont North;
• John Bowman – ward: Distington;
• Hugh Branney – ward: Cleator Moor North;
• George Clements – ward: Kells, Whitehaven;
• Phil Greatorex – ward: Bransty, Whitehaven;
• Allan Holliday – ward: Kells, Whitehaven;
• Gillian Troughton – ward: Bransty, Whitehaven.

From the Carlisle News & Star on Wednesday, January 30, 2013.