The South Copeland GDF Community Partnership wants to know what matters to Millom residents about the future of their area.

The partnership is seeking the views of people in the Millom and Millom Without electoral wards to shape a community vision as part of its activities on the Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) programme.

To support this vision's development, the partnership is keen to understand how people feel about the South Copeland area, what they value most, and what they might want to improve.

Residents can get involved by completing an online questionnaire, with future opportunities to complete this via post and at events in the area.

The questionnaire can be found at https://forms.office.com/e/Dy8WL7BauQ.

The partnership’s next event, a community forum on Tuesday, September 10, at Thwaites Village Hall, Millom, will include a discussion on visioning.

You can sign up to this event at southcopelandforums.gdfevents.co.uk.

Ged McGrath, chairman of the South Copeland GDF Community Partnership, said: "We’re interested in hearing a range of views as part of our visioning work and encourage people in South Copeland to make their voice heard as we think about what the future of our community could look like.

"Visioning activity has started by reviewing existing community plans, to understand the key themes that have already been identified, and we’re using these findings, as well as what we’ve learnt from our engagement with the public to date, to encourage further conversations.

"Our next community forum in Thwaites will look at this subject, and there’ll be more opportunities across the region in the months ahead.

"You can also share your opinion online or via Freepost return, with our next newsletter in November 2024."

Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) is working with the community partnership to identify a community vision and what this might mean for the Significant Additional Investment package that will be made available to the community that hosts a GDF.

This investment would enhance the economic benefits that hosting a 'nationally significant' infrastructure project could bring, and recognises the commitment that would be made by the host community.

The vision could, for example, include improved transport infrastructure, education and skills provision, or services.

A GDF is an underground facility that is designed to 'safely and securely' dispose of the most hazardous radioactive waste.

A GDF requires both a suitable site and a willing community to house it.

If a suitable site is found in South Copeland – a process which could take 10–15 years – a Test of Public Support would give people in the Potential Host Community a say over whether the project goes ahead.