29/6/2006 - Public meeting discusses minerals and waste development plans

Environmental and community groups in West Cumbria will meet with county council’s planners this Friday (30th June) to discuss the need for new mineral and waste sites in the county.

The public meeting starting at 2pm at Lakes College, Workington, will discuss the draft Cumbria Minerals and Waste Development Framework - when the framework is finished, all planning applications for development concerning minerals and waste will be considered against the adopted policies.

The meeting will focus on how the public can make effective responses to the recently published “Issues and Options Discussion Paper” and make their views heard.

Ian Stewart, council spokesman on transport planning and the environment, said: 

“Planning issues like these can seem a bit dry but they do matter. What we set down in the final framework will help decide planning applications for quarrying and waste disposal in Cumbria for twelve years so it is important stuff we are dealing with.

" What we are asking is for as many people as possible to help us get it right by getting involved in the consultation.” 

The meeting in Workington is just part of a major county-wide consultation exercise on the Mineral and Waste Development Framework.

  
Neighbourhood Forums will also be addressing the issues over the next six weeks, with meetings at Long Marton Village Hall on 3rd July, Dallam School on the 4th July, Parton Village Hall 5th July, Kendal County Offices 11th July, Millom 17th July, and South Whitehaven 26th July. All these meetings are at 7pm and more details can be found on the County Council website  www.cumbria.gov.uk/neighbourhoodforums

Other meetings are being planned, and the document can also be viewed and commented on at www.cumbria.gov.uk/planning-environment/policy/minerals_waste/mwdf/mwdevframe  or at libraries and at district council offices

Meetings already held in Penrith and Kendal on the 14th and 21st June were well attended and constructive with around 45 people in total joining in workshops on specific issues and how to make effective responses.