Consultation
Our consultation has now launched and will run until 23rd March 2012. The consultation asks for your views on our initial opinions about the key issues relating to a potential repository for higher activity radioactive waste in West Cumbria. We will use your responses to consider whether we should change these initial opinions and, if so, how. This will shape the advice we give to the three Councils in 2012, to help inform their decision about whether to take part in the search for a site for a repository or not.
Consultation materials
We have produced a consultation document outlining our initial opinions on the key issues that we have been looking into over the last two years. A large amount of information has been condensed into the consultation document, and it is therefore primarily aimed at people who are keen to spend some time getting to grips with the issues involved.
To make it easier to understand, we have produced an accompanying DVD and an eight-page overview document summarising some of the issues in the full consultation document. All of these materials can be downloaded/viewed by clicking on the links below, or you can request a copy of the full consultation pack by emailing us or calling our Freephone number 0800 048 8912.
We have also produced specialist materials for schools and youth groups to use, and you can ask for any of our documents in different formats including Braille, large print, audio transcription or a foreign language translation. Please contact us to request any of these materials.
How can I submit my views?
1) We recommend responding online if possible. You can do this by clicking on the Respond online link below – you will be taken to a new page where you will be asked to register with a username and password. This will enable you to come back to your responses and amend or complete them at any time before the consultation closes on 23rd March 2012.
2) You can also respond in writing if you prefer by using the response form. The form has the same questions as the online response system. A paper copy of the form is available in the consultation pack, or you can download an electronic version below to complete and either email back to us at contact@westcumbriamrws.org.uk, or send by post to our Freepost address (the address is available on the Contact us page).
3) We encourage everyone to use the online response system or the response form to submit comments, as they are structured around the key questions we most want feedback on. However, you can submit brief views via the comments slip in the overview document, or simply write to us, stating that you would like us to consider your letter as a formal submission to the consultation. Please provide your name, that of any organisation you represent, and your postcode as a minimum as part of your submission.
We must receive your views by 23rd March 2012 for them to be included.
How to find out more
A range of activities are taking place during the consultation to enable you to find out more and ask questions. This has already included a series of community events across Cumbria to help people learn more about the MRWS discussions and have their questions answered - click here for further information. For information about other activities that are happening please click here.
How will my responses be used?
All submissions to the consultation will be analysed by our independent programme managers. They will be grouped according to question or issue, and a summary report will be written covering each aspect of the consultation and our response to the issues raised. The report will be published as soon as possible after the end of the consultation period, and we will notify everybody via our regular e-bulletin. For more information about how we will analyse and respond to public input, please see the full consultation document. For details about data protection and confidentiality please click here.
Opinion survey
A public opinion survey will be conducted at the end of the consultation period to test public opinion in a statistically representative way. The results of the opinion survey will be considered alongside the results of this consultation. See Appendix 3 of the consultation document for more information on how this will be done.
Opportunity for public comment on the opinion survey 6 - 20 February 2012
The public opinion survey is essential to understanding public views on the MRWS process in a statistically respresentative way. We are therefore taking the unusal step of publishing the draft questionnaire for public comment from 6 - 20 February 2012. Following the close of the comment period the Partnership will produce a summary response document addressing issues raised. Click here for a copy of the draft questionnaire (also published in the Documents section as Document 251). The deadline for comment is midday on 20 February 2012.