No nuclear waste dump in Lincolnshire! The message is clear from Theddlethorpe to the villages of Gayton Le Marsh and Great Carlton and surrounding areas: our Lincolnshire coastline and countryside must not be scarred with this monstrous carbuncle.
Yesterday I visited the new proposed site to see for myself the green fields and homes between Great Carlton and Gayton le Marsh now subject to this threat. I also joined constituents in Great Carlton to make clear our opposition at a Nuclear Waste Services consultation event. I was joined by our Conservative Candidate for Lincolnshire Mayor, Rob Waltham, and our local County Councillor, Dan McNally to show our unity in opposing these plans.
We met one of the local farmers who farms the land which is earmarked for NWS’s proposals. It was clear from our conversation that this land is productive and plays a vital role in producing the food we eat. The damage to productive agricultural land in this area and in the construction of rail and road links will be enormous - yet there is no sign that this loss has been understood or included in the national food security debate.
The anguish, shock and worry amongst constituents is palpable. Residents had no idea that this site was being considered; even after I forced NWS to announce their expanded search site in November last year, no meaningful engagement with the local community occurred.
There are many questions remaining such as why this waste is not kept in Sellafield where the majority of it is produced, rather than transporting it across the country? Why NWS has moved the site further inland onto productive agricultural land? How and when will the test of public support be held?
The financial and emotional impacts on residents are immediate - I was told that a house sale in the area has already fallen through as a direct result of this announcement. Others spoke of their fears that they will not be able to sell their homes in the future. I am taking this up with NWS on their behalf.
Enough is enough. The local people whose lives are being blighted by these proposals need to be given their say this year.
