The draft minutes for the November meeting of Millom Town Council says:
150/24: SOUTH COPELAND GDF PARTNERSHIP:
Cllr Faulkner raised concerns following the latest South Copeland GDF Partnership meeting where she had attended on behalf of Millom Town Council.
Cllr Falkner’s main concerns were as follows:
MTC have always declared itself neutral in the GDF process and supports the principle set out in the Policy that ultimately it will be the people that decide if they are willing to provide a local solution to a national problem by becoming the host community for a nuclear waste Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).
MTC has a responsibility to over 7300 residents in Millom & Haverigg to ensure that they are kept informed on the progress of the project and are educated to the potential risks and economic benefits that hosting a GDF could bring to the town. However Public engagement in Millom & Haverigg is currently non existent.
There is no evidence of engagement with our young people who ultimately will be the generations that will deliver the project if it goes ahead.
The makeup of the partnership does not reflect the community of Millom & Haverigg as the voices that dominate it are from outside of the town.
The poor behaviours of members in meetings have been witnessed by several
councillors who have reported back on an obsession with minutes & documents rather than focusing on actions that benefit the community.
It has been observed that members of the partnership are pushing an agenda of not trusting the developer which undermines the principle of putting the decision making in the hands of the public.
On these grounds of concern Cllr Faulkner proposed a motion that Millom Town Council withdraw from its seat on the South Copeland GDF Partnership, but that Millom Town Council would continue to support the principle of a policy that gives the final decision to the community and will work with NWS to identify how best to engage and educate the people of Millom and Haverigg as the project develops. Cllr Faulkner proposed that a letter to be sent to NWS confirming this withdrawal.
A debate followed with councillors expressing their individual opinions and concerns about withdrawing from the partnership.
Cllr McDonald seconded Cllr Faulkner’s motion and the Chair then asked the councillors for a vote, it this was agreed by all councillors to do this: The following vote result was as follows: 9 members voted to withdraw, 1 vote to remain and 1 abstention. Therefore, the motion was unanimously carried. Action: Clerk to write letter to NWS to withdraw Millom Town Council from the South Copeland GDF Partnership on the above
grounds.
COMMENT: Given the Community Partnership has ignored the repeated concerns raised by locals it will be interesting to see if Millom Town Council continues to ignore them or if they will do anything about them. Members of the public who attended the Community Forum back in 2023 came up with comprehensive lists of their concerns – most of which have been ignored by NWS.
It will be interesting to see if anything comes up at their next meeting, Wednesday, 29th January, 7 pm at the Methodist Hall, Millom.