Andy Pratt will continue as Chair of Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership.
Andy took on the role last July after Mark Cullinan stepped down from the interim position. At this month’s Community Partnership meeting, Andy was reselected.
Married with three children, Andy, from Holmrook, is Cumberland councillor for Millom Without Ward. He said: “I’m delighted to have been reappointed as Chair for the next two years, from July. I think we have made progress over the past year in having conversations with local people about what a Geological Disposal Facility is and what it could mean for the area.
Andy Pratt, Chair – Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership
“In our first year we spoke to over 1,000 people and held 50 events for people to come along and find out what geological disposal is all about. People have been asking questions and I hope we have been providing plenty of information in this early stage.”
Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership was the first to be formed in the country in November 2021. It covers the electoral ward of Gosforth which includes Seascale, Gosforth, Beckermet, Calderbridge, Haile, Thornhill, Nethertown and Braystones. The Lake District National Park is excluded from consideration.
A GDF is an underground facility designed to safely and securely dispose of higher activity radioactive waste.
Deep geology beyond the coast is being considered for siting the underground elements of a GDF in Mid Copeland. This means a surface facility on, or near, the coast could provide access to a disposal area deep in rock beyond the coast.
Andy added: “As Nuclear Waste Services progresses in its work to look for a suitable site for a GDF and a local community which would be willing to host one, further information will become available which we will continue to communicate locally to ensure people are kept informed and can have their say.”
Andy is Chair of Governors for both Gosforth C of E School and Kirkland Academy and has been for the past 18 years. He is also Vice Chair of Drigg and Carleton Parish Council as well as a trustee of Drigg Young Farmers’ Club.