Last week, around a dozen Rotarians and guests enjoyed an evening at The Coastal Centre in Mablethorpe learning about the proposed nuclear waste storage facility that could potentially occupy the old Conoco Gas Terminal site at Theddlethorpe.
In common with other developed countries, the UK has a legacy of nuclear waste built up over the last 70 years as by-product of power generation, military applications and various manufacturing and medical processes. The international consensus is that this waste must now be moved to purpose built Geological Disposal Facilities (GDF) where it can be safely stored, without maintenance, for up to 100,000 years.
Theddlethorpe is one of four sites being considered for the UK’s GDF in a research and planning process expected to last 10 to 15 years. Once constructed, the GDF would operate for 150 to 200 years before being permanently sealed.
Should Theddlethorpe be selected, it would bring transformative levels of employment and investment to the area. In particular, a new rail connection could also run passenger and goods trains, alleviating the area’s transport problems.
We thank Nuclear Waste Services for inviting us to a very well-organised and informative event, and await future developments with interest.
You can find out more about this project at the Theddlethorpe GDF Community Partnership website.