Lincolnshire set to withdraw from nuclear waste group

The move may effectively put an end to NWS’ plans to build a geological disposal facility (GDF) for nuclear waste in Lincolnshire. 

The council was invited to join the NWS – then called “Radioactive Waste Management” – working group in 2021. 

The council’s leader, councillor Martin Hill OBE, explained that the council originally joined “with an open mind”.  

He said: “We wanted residents to be able to understand the full extent of the opportunities and consequences that would come with the building of a GDF in Lincolnshire. 

“At that time, the site earmarked for the development was an old gas terminal in Theddlethorpe – a brownfield site. Since then, the area that NWS is considering for the entry point to the GDF has shifted to open farmland, a couple of miles up the coast and further inland.” 

The new site is located in an area of land between Gayton le Marsh and Great Carlton. The decision to change sites was made earlier this year. 

The council said that the new proposal had raised concerns within the local community.  

Hill continued: “We had planned to put the decision on whether to remain within the partnership to a public vote next year, but it has become increasingly apparent that the community is getting frustrated with the uncertainty and slow pace of this process. 

“Unless NWS can provide significant further details about their plans that would reassure the local community and comprehensively explain the benefits and costs, it is my intention to withdraw from the process altogether. 

“This will need to be a formal decision, taken at a meeting of the council’s Executive.” 

As East Lindsey district council withdrew from the group in early March, making Lincolnshire the only council on the working group.  

NWS requires at least one of the two local councils around the proposed Lincolnshire GDF site to remain involved in the working group for it to progress.