Nuclear waste debate: Decision day for west Cumbria
Three councils will decide today whether or not they want to look at possible sites to bury high level nuclear waste in west Cumbria.
The executives of Allerdale, Copeland and Cumbria County Council's cabinet will hear representations from those for and against moving forward in the process.
Allerdale and/or Copeland can only move progress to search for sites if they have the backing of the county council.
If they decide to go through in depth desk tops studies will look at whether the geology in west Cumbria is suitable.
Cumbria County Council will meet at 10am in Carlisle, Copleand at 10am in Whitehaven and Allerdale at 3pm in Maryport.
More than 200 tonnes of grout have been used to fill the hole that appeared behind Howbank Road in Egremont on 14th November.
Contractors Forkers will be back at the site on Monday (7th January) to put in place a permanent cap.
The work should be finished by 18th January, before work begins to landscape the area and reinstate the fields and gardens damaged when the hole appeared.
Copeland Borough Council who own the land say the grout column should stabilise the hole and keep the homes near the hole safe.
Those living in the nine homes affected were allowed back home on 21st December although some have chosen not to return.
Members of the public in West Cumbria get to have their say about council budget cuts this week.
A series of drop in sessions are taking place over Copeland Borough Councils proposal to cut more than two and a half million pounds by 2015.
Whitehaven's Civic Hall, Library and Tourist Information Centre are being sold off, further proposals include raising parking charges, removing flowerbeds and closing public toilets.
