The Search Area for Mid Copeland will be changing its boundary due to Local Government Reorganisation when the current electoral ward boundaries of Copeland Borough Council cease to exist from April 1, 2023.
Members of the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership have been discussing how the changes will influence the Partnership, as the area takes part in the search for a suitable site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).
The Implementing Geological Disposal – working with communities government policy about long term management of higher activity radioactive waste requires a Search Area to be defined using electoral ward boundaries and that any changes to these boundaries should be reflected in the Search Area as it evolves over time.
The new wards will follow the same boundaries as the current county council divisions.
Illustrative map of Mid Copeland Search Area defined using new ward boundaries from April 2023
This means the Mid Copeland Search Area will cover the electoral division of Gosforth which includes Seascale, Gosforth, Beckermet, Calderbridge, Haile, Thornhill, Nethertown and Braystones.
The parishes of Drigg and Carleton and Irton with Santon will sit outside the Mid Copeland Search Area in the Millom Without ward and will instead be in the South Copeland Search Area, which will be made up of the electoral divisions of Millom and Millom Without.
Areas within the Lake District National Park will continue to be excluded from consideration.
The Mid Copeland Community Partnership has offered a non-voting seat to Drigg and Carleton Parish Council to keep communication open and provide continuity. The Parish Council has been engaged in the process since the Partnership formed.
The full parish of Lowside Quarter will be included in the Mid Copeland Search Area.
The Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership will review the arrangements after 12 months, on April 1, 2024.
Chair of the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership Andy Pratt said: “The Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership has been discussing the forthcoming boundary changes for some time and how that will affect the current search area in Mid Copeland.
“Cumberland will follow the same boundaries as the current county council divisions and therefore the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership has made some changes to ensure we are compliant with policy, while also being mindful of our local community. We will review this after 12 months.”