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Cumbria County Council is lobbying the House of Lords to secure guarantees of economic and social support for areas hardest hit by the predicted 8,000 job losses as Sellafield is decommissioned. In a joint move, the Council’s three Political Group Leaders have written to Peers from each of their political parties seeking support. The move comes as the House of Lords begins to debate the Energy Bill later this week. 

The Council has welcomed the fact that the new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will locate its Headquarters in West Cumbria. The exact location is still being considered. As things stand the NDA only has a “power to give encouragement and other support activities benefiting the social and economic life of communities living near nuclear sites”. The Council believes this is not strong enough and is lobbying for the NDA to be “required to do so” and not simply leave it to the Authority’s discretion.

The Council’s three political group leaders; Councillors, Rex Toft – Conservative; Stewart Young – Labour: Mike Ash – Liberal Democrat have today issued the following joint statement:

“We have welcomed the setting up of the NDA to manage the decommissioning of nuclear sites across the country and the fact that it’s Headquarters will be in West Cumbria. But it is essential we get guarantees that social and economic support will be given to those areas hit by job losses. We believe there will be support from our Peers for our call, which is why we are jointly lobbying them to support an amendment to the draft Energy Bill. We must do all we can to ensure the final legislation makes a binding commitment to benefit the social and economic life of communities living near Nuclear Sites.”