Tory ministers were slammed after they refused to rule out burying nuclear waste under national parks. The government’s statement was branded “absolutely shocking” by Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas. It comes more than five years after Cumbria County Council rejected a bid for an underground storage unit under the Lake District. Since then ministers have continued their search for a home for the Geological Disposal Facility. Labour peer Lord Judd asked ministers to promise national parks, protected areas and areas of outstanding natural beauty will be excluded from the search. But energy minister Lord Henley said he was “not excluding” those areas yet while a National Policy Statement is finalised. He insisted: “Development for a Geological Disposal Facility should only be consented in nationally designated areas in exceptional circumstances and where it would be in the public interest to do so. “Even if such development were consented, the developer would be required to take a number of measures to protect and where possible improve the environment.”
Mirror 9th May 2018 read more »
