Good News for Lincolnshire as Their “NO” is Ratified …but…..

East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire should get a written assurance from Nuclear Waste Services and any future quangos that 10 years down the line the nuclear mafia will not come back with a revised plan and call it a new “process.” Cumbria County Council ie the region of the whole of Cumbria were assured that the precursor to Nuclear Waste Services called Managing Radioactive Wastes Safely had accepted the County’s decision - as we now know that was a big fat lie and they just ripped up the rule book eradicating Cumbria County Counci and redrawing the “process.”

East Lindsey District Council withdraws from Theddlethorpe Geological Disposal Facility process

By James Turner, Local Democracy Reporter

Published: 14:31, 03 April 2025

Council leaders have withdrawn from a 'contentious' process which is looking into building a nuclear waste dump.

East Lindsey District Council has now formally pulled out of the Theddlethorpe Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) Community Partnership.

The council's executive board unanimously agreed on Wednesday (April 2) to end its involvement in the process after Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) announced it was looking at a new possible site on land between Gayton le Marsh and Great Carlton, near Louth.

Two other locations in Mid Copeland and South Copeland in Cumbria were identified as areas of focus in January.

Local leaders argued the new location is prime agricultural land and significantly different from the former gas terminal site in Theddlethorpe, which had previously been considered.

During the meeting, Coun Craig Leyland, leader of ELDC, told members the proposed site would have a "detrimental impact on the countryside," and that the involvement with the Community Partnership so far has "antagonised and distressed" local communities and residents.

He said: "We have come to a decision point where we feel the best option for us to support our local communities is actually to withdraw from the process."

Portfolio holder for market towns and rural economy, Coun Adam Grist (Conservative) described the situation as a "hugely contentious issue" which has been the subject of much discussion in the district.

"We were right to enter the discussions however many years ago and we are right to withdraw now. I think the goal posts clearly moved this year," he added.

He also hoped that this move from the council would "put to bed the uncertainty and distress" felt by impacted communities.

After the meeting, Coun Leyland explained: "We entered this in good faith, knowing that the majority of the Theddlethorpe site was brownfield and we engaged with it in a positive sense.

"We didn't expect it to take four years to get to the point that it has. We are also very concerned about the change in the area of focus to now effectively open countryside. That caused us to relook at the decision we took."

Lincolnshire County Council announced its intention to leave the Community Partnership last month, but a formal decision will need to be taken after elections on May 1.

Coun Leyland added: "They will have to get through quite a significant election process. Once that is finished with and whoever the new administration is, they will have to come to a decision."

During a protest outside the ELDC offices ahead of a full council meeting in March, the Conservative leader spoke to campaigners, pointing out that there are "no guarantees" the site wouldn't be built in Lincolnshire, even if Lincolnshire County Council also withdraws, due to Labour having a majority in parliament.

"Nuclear waste has to go somewhere, it has to be stored safely, and the government will have to make a decision, and obviously it's an issue whether it happens here or not but we will see what happens."

Responding to the news, a spokesperson from NWS said: “We acknowledge and accept the decision made by East Lindsey District Council.” (our emphasis - they did not accept the decision made by Cumbria County Council!!)