Council withdraws from Nuclear Waste Partnership
Lincolnshire County Council has formally withdrawn from the Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) Community Partnership, effectively ending proposals to locate a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for nuclear waste in the county.
The decision, voted through unanimously by the council’s Executive on Tuesday (June 3rd), marks a significant shift in policy following the recent local elections. Theddlethorpe, on the county’s east coast, had been under consideration as a potential site since 2021.
Newly appointed council leader, Cllr Sean Matthews, confirmed the withdrawal, stating the council had “listened and acted” in response to strong public opposition. “We’re out of the Community Partnership and the nuclear proposal is over,” he said.
The move followed a report presented to the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Management Board last week. The meeting heard from key stakeholders, including Community Partnership Chair David Fannin, NWS CEO Seth Kybird, and Mike Crookes of Guardians of the East Coast (GOTEC), a campaign group opposed to the project. Local councillor Bayleigh Robinson, representing Saltfleet and the Cotes, also spoke in favour of withdrawing.
The GDF concept involves storing high-level radioactive waste deep underground in engineered vaults. While supported by the UK Government as a long-term solution to nuclear waste, the plan was met with significant concern locally.
Lincolnshire’s involvement began in 2021 when the council agreed to join an initial working group to learn more about the proposals. A formal Community Partnership, including East Lindsey District Council, followed in 2022.
The council’s exit brings the consultation process in Lincolnshire to a close.
