A group from Cumbria will today be visiting an advanced waste management facility in Scotland as part of public consultations on crucial planning guidance for the county.
Representatives from Kendal, Barrow and Carlisle and from Friends of the Earth are visiting a Mechanical Biological Treatment plant in Dumfries and Galloway as part of the consultation on Cumbria’s Core Strategy for county’s Minerals and Waste Development Framework.
When complete, the Minerals and Waste Development Framework will set out policies governing the protection of the environment and the location of potential mineral and waste sites such as quarries, recycling facilities and MBT plants up to 2020. The Core Strategy part of the MWDF assesses the possible future need for such minerals and waste facilities.
The visit to the MBT plant in Dumfries is a chance to see one kind of major waste treatment facility dealt with by the MWDF and the Core Strategy.
The consultation on the Preferred Options Core Strategy of the MWDF closes this Friday, December 14th.
The MWDF is an important document for Cumbria as it will contain policies governing the extraction of minerals such as gypsum, limestone and coal bed methane as well as policies on the storage and disposal of radioactive waste.
It is therefore important that anyone with an interest in minerals and waste developments takes a close look at this document and makes their views known in the consultation.
The Changes to the Preferred Options Core Strategy and the Sustainability Appraisal can be seen on the county council website by folloing the link at the bottom of the page.
The website is accessible free from all county libraries during normal opening hours.
Paper copies are also available to read at all libraries and copies can be obtained free at County Offices in Kendal.
A special hot line telephone number (01539 773548) has been set up to provide advice on issues and help in making comments.
A leaflet about the consultation has been produced and is available around the county and is attached to this release.
All comments will be considered carefully and a further core strategy document will be produced in light of the current consultations before a further round of consultations takes place in spring 2008.
Information about the draft MWDF is also available in large format, Braille, audio or in different languages by calling 01228 607299 or 01229 894401.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Justin Hawkins, Media Officer on 01228 606334
Notes
The Changes to the Preferred Options Core Strategy will help to form Cumbria’s Minerals and Waste Development Framework (MWDF).
The MWDF as a whole will contain other documents for more detailed policies, but these will have to conform to the Core Strategy now under consultation.
The Government requires every minerals and waste planning authority such as Cumbria County Council to set out a strategy for tackling the issues and produce a plan identifying sites around the county which might potentially be developed for minerals or waste facilities.
When complete, the Minerals and Waste Development Framework for Cumbria will set out policies governing the location of sites and protection the environment around the county up to 2020. All planning applications for development concerning minerals and waste will be considered against the adopted policies.
Follow link to view changes to the Preferred Options Core Strategy and the Sustainability Appraisal