nuclear-news

Part of the new strategy means Outline Planning Zone’s must be put in place.

These are areas outside of the immediate vacinity which could be affected by a disaster.

A report from Steve Healey, the chief fire officer for Cumbria, revealed the affected area covers a 50-kilometre circular zone from an epicentre at Sellafield.

The area includes as far south as Walney, east as Bowness and north almost to the Scottish border.

Cumbria County Council has accepted the report at a meeting of the cabinet, which was chaired by Cllr Stewart Young…..

This new concept of an Outlying Planning Zone is new. The zone is determined by kilometres from the centre of the Sellafield site. It takes you way beyond the boundaries of Copeland, showing that other areas of Cumbria would also be affected by a serious incident.

“It includes BAE and the docks at Barrow. So, the implications of an accident are so significant for the whole county. It is a responsibility that sits then with Cumbria County Council as well as Barrow, Copeland and Allerdale. This is an important piece of work.”

The new regulations allow for a transitional period of 12 months and all changes required to have been made by this May.

The authority was on track to meet the deadlines until resources were diverted to respond to Covid-19.

A plan has been agreed with the Office for Nuclear Regulation allowing the council to prepare the plans before November 21 this year.

The report said Sellafield’s OPZ was the largest in the United Kingdom and whilst only outline planning is required there is a substantial amount of work being undertaken to identify vulnerable premises and infrastructure in the zone. ……… https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/18752191.sellafield-nuclear-disaster-spread-across-cumbria—new-map-shows/