Press release - 30 Nov 2009

Proposal for low level waste disposal facility at Keekle Head given positive response during public engagement

The majority of people who attended a series of public exhibitions and meetings about plans for a new low level radioactive waste disposal facility welcomed the proposals and said they felt better informed.

More than 140 people took the opportunity to attend the four exhibitions during October and November, with many more attending six evening presentations, which were designed to share information on the plans and listen to feedback.

While some people did raise concerns relating to perceived problems with traffic, the environment and health, the vast majority said they felt much more comfortable and better informed about the plans once they had attended the events.

Endecom UK Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of recycling and resource management company SITA UK, is on course to submit a planning application to Cumbria County Council on 18 December this year.

The company has already secured agreement, subject to planning approval being granted, on the purchase of the Keekle Head site, which is located one mile east of Pica and five miles north east from Whitehaven. Despite its similar name, it is not located close to Keekle Village, as some people have been led to believe.

Endecom proposes to restore large parts of the former opencast coalmine, which is situated on the Pica to Dean Cross Road, including re-instating the River Keekle near its original course, before constructing the expertly-engineered and purpose-built disposal site – see artist’s impression.

If given the go-ahead, the site would be operated to the highest European standards and best practise, ensuring no detrimental impact to health, the environment or the community. It would also be regularly monitored by the Environment Agency.

The void would be filled, a section at a time, under an engineered and highly durable canopy, which would only be removed and taken to the next section once a landfilled area was complete and landscaped. The operation would be carried out under cover to ensure as little impact on the environment as possible.

If the plans proceed, about 12 lorries a day will travel to the disposal facility along the A595 and new Distington by-pass, before turning off up the former coal haulage route, past the Distington Hall Crematorium to the Keekle Head site.

Endecom Development Manager Phil Holland said he was very pleased with the outcome of the public engagement so far, and the interest taken in the plans.

“We were very heartened by the response we had at the public exhibitions and meetings, and the many positive comments we received,” he said. “I think it is fair to say that most people seemed to leave feeling better informed and comfortable with the plans and many saw this as an opportunity to restore the Keekle Head site and boost the local economy.

“Some people did raise concerns, but in a lot of cases we were able to dispel those fears with simple explanations. Only the lower end of low level radioactive waste would be accepted for disposal on this facility and it would be carried out in a very safe, organised and engineered way.

“Contrary to what a few people thought, this site will not operate in a similar manner to a household waste landfill site, and it will pose no risk to the community.”

Westlakes Scientific Consulting is carrying out an independent Health Impact Assessment, for inclusion in the planning application, and was represented at the exhibitions in order to listen to people’s feedback.

The majority of people who attended a series of public exhibitions and meetings about plans for a new low level radioactive waste disposal facility welcomed the proposals and said they felt better informed.

More than 140 people took the opportunity to attend the four exhibitions during October and November, with many more attending six evening presentations, which were designed to share information on the plans and listen to feedback.

While some people did raise concerns relating to perceived problems with traffic, the environment and health, the vast majority said they felt much more comfortable and better informed about the plans once they had attended the events.
 
Endecom UK Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of recycling and resource management company SITA UK, is on course to submit a planning application to Cumbria County Council on 18 December this year.

The company has already secured agreement, subject to planning approval being granted, on the purchase of the Keekle Head site, which is located one mile east of Pica and five miles north east from Whitehaven. Despite its similar name, it is not located close to Keekle Village, as some people have been led to believe.

Endecom proposes to restore large parts of the former opencast coalmine, which is situated on the Pica to Dean Cross Road, including re-instating the River Keekle near its original course, before constructing the expertly-engineered and purpose-built disposal site – see artist’s impression.

If given the go-ahead, the site would be operated to the highest European standards and best practise, ensuring no detrimental impact to health, the environment or the community. It would also be regularly monitored by the Environment Agency.

The void would be filled, a section at a time, under an engineered and highly durable canopy, which would only be removed and taken to the next section once a landfilled area was complete and landscaped. The operation would be carried out under cover to ensure as little impact on the environment as possible.

If the plans proceed, about 12 lorries a day will travel to the disposal facility along the A595 and new Distington by-pass, before turning off up the former coal haulage route, past the Distington Hall Crematorium to the Keekle Head site.

Endecom Development Manager Phil Holland said he was very pleased with the outcome of the public engagement so far, and the interest taken in the plans.

“We were very heartened by the response we had at the public exhibitions and meetings, and the many positive comments we received,” he said. “I think it is fair to say that most people seemed to leave feeling better informed and comfortable with the plans and many saw this as an opportunity to restore the Keekle Head site and boost the local economy.

“Some people did raise concerns, but in a lot of cases we were able to dispel those fears with simple explanations. Only the lower end of low level radioactive waste would be accepted for disposal on this facility and it would be carried out in a very safe, organised and engineered way.

“Contrary to what a few people thought, this site will not operate in a similar manner to a household waste landfill site, and it will pose no risk to the community.”

Westlakes Scientific Consulting is carrying out an independent Health Impact Assessment, for inclusion in the planning application, and was represented at the exhibitions in order to listen to people’s feedback.

An artist's impression of the Keekle Head site