Keekle Head site
Endecom UK Ltd
Endecom was set up by SITA UK to manage the disposal of low level and very low level radioactive waste arising from nuclear establishments, primarily the decommissioning of Sellafield, in west Cumbria.
Keekle Head – former opencast coal mine
Endecom has secured an option agreement, subject to planning approval being granted, on the purchase of a 70 hectare (173 acres) former opencast coal mine at Keekle Head, one mile east from Pica and five miles north east from Whitehaven. The company has examined the potential to use the derelict site for the disposal of low and very low level radioactive construction and demolition waste, and submitted a planning application to Cumbria County Council in December 2009.
The former quarry has been derelict since mining ceased in 2006, leaving behind a substantial area of despoiled land and an excavation void, which needs to be backfilled. The proposed scheme would involve early restoration of large parts of the site to a high standard, including reinstating the River Keekle near its original course, and, after landfilling is complete, final restoration of the area as heath and woodland.
The company believes its plans are in line with Government and National Decommissioning Authority policy for the safe disposal of low level waste and feels the geological conditions of the site, along with its location just 17 miles from Sellafield, make it ideal for purpose-built disposal facilities. The current capacity at the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR), near Drigg, Cumbria, is limited, so other disposal facilities are now needed to take the low activity and low risk wastes. The Keekle Head site would enable the LLWR to preserve its capacity for the higher activity level wastes, which it is authorised and designed to accept.
Current position
After almost two years of research, planning, discussions and consultation, Endecom UK Ltd submitted a planning application to Cumbria County Council in December 2009.
Cumbria County Council issued the Application for Consulation in 2010 and several technical queries were raised by the Environment Agency and other consultees. Endecom UK Ltd has spent about 10 months in detailed technical discussions with the County Planning Officers and Regulators in order to understand the technical issues they raised and to modify its design proposals accordingly. For example, there has been significant work undertaken to examine ecological habitats, the environmental baseline of a derelict coal working and the hydrogeology of the site.
Following these extensive consultations, Endecom UK Ltd has now compiled an addendum document, which has been submitted to the County Council, addressing questions raised and providing detail on the minor design modifications - these relate to changes to the below ground design of the proposed facility, but do not change the final landform or the fundamental design of the site. The addendum non-technical summary is available below. It is understood that the full addendum document will be available for consultation through Cumbria County Council.
Consultation with the community
Endecom UK Ltd has consulted extensively with the west Cumbrian community and other stakeholders in its aim to be open, transparent and honest about the proposal. Development Manager Phil Holland has attended a series of public and council meetings to explain the plans and answer questions, and four public exhibitions were well attended during October and November 2009. Posters and 5,000 information leaflets were also produced, informing people in detail of the proposals and inviting them to find out more at the series of events. The leaflets were delivered to more than 3,000 homes in the Keekle Head area, with others sent to public venues, councillors, community representatives and local businesses. A follow-up newsletter has since been produced and delivered to hundreds of stakeholders, including those who attended the exhibitions, giving an update on the plans and answering frequently asked questions.
Information and downloads
- Frequently asked questions
- Newsletter (December 2009)
- Information leaflet (2009)
- Exhibition panels (2009)
- Non-technical summary (2009)
- Non-technical summary addendum (2011)
If you have an enquiry about our Keekle Head proposal or if you would like to speak to someone about Endecom UK Ltd, please call 01772 325500 or email keeklehead@sita.co.uk
