The nuclear debate

Since joining the News and Star/Cumberland News the issue of nuclear waste dumps has been a pretty hot potato.

In January the cabinet of Cumbria County Council opted out of the running to host an undergound storage facility in the west of the county and last year the planning committee rejected an application to convert a former open cast coal mine into a repository for low level radioactive waste - stuff like clothing and contminated soil etc.

The company behind the move appealed to the planning inspectorate and the secretary of state - a certain Mr Eric Pickles who is very popular with lots of councillors - decided that a public inquiry should be held to investigate the decision.

It is set to last two weeks and on the first day the council offices in Kendal were decorated with these banners. I will keep you posted on how it goes.