Cumbria County Council has given its backing to the county's nuclear future at a Full Council meeting today.
The council agreed to respond to the consultation currently being held by the Government through its Energy White Paper by saying that nuclear power should be part of the energy supply mix.
Another paper recommending that local authorities and communities should be empowered and incentivised when considering whether to host a geological repository for radioactive waste was also approved.
The council also voted to endorse the West Cumbria Masterplan, the document commissioned through the West Cumbria Strategic Forum that will address the economic challenges associated with the restructuring of the nuclear industry.
The Masterplan was endorsed, with a commitment to further discussions on the budgetary and operational implications for the county council on the following issues: transport funding and Regional Funding Allocation; allocation of Building Schools for the Future funding; and the development of a new Acute Services Hospital in West Cumbria. It was also stressed that the Masterplan must work in conjunction with other regeneration plans for the county and the wider Cumbria Economic Plan.
Cllr Tony Markley, Cabinet member responsible for economic development and regeneration, said:
"Obviously nuclear power poses a number of issues but today's decisions represent a major benchmark for the county council. The issue of the safe and secure disposal of the existing waste legacy needs to be addressed, but we have given Government clear advice on how to handle this. We have now opened the door to nuclear power playing a major role in the Cumbrian economy of the future."
ENDS
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