Young people are being included in the conversation around the underground disposal of nuclear waste in Allerdale.

An interactive learning session on the uses of geological disposal facilities has been held for 43 children from St Gregory’s Primary School in Workington and Our Lady and St. Patrick's Primary School in Maryport.

The session was held by the University of Sheffield and the Allerdale GDF Working Group as part of efforts to consult with the public on the method of nuclear waste disposal.

Hands-on sessions were held by James Mansfield, a Scientist and Science Communicator from the University of Sheffield for primary school students aged 10 and 11.

The session was delivered in partnership with Radioactive Waste Management and the Primary Business Partnership at the Centre for Leadership Performance.

RWM Community Engagement Coordinator, Alison Beard said: “Young people are really important stakeholders in the conversation around GDF and the Working Group want them to be able to access all the information and support they need to properly understand it.”

“James did a fantastic job of explaining and illustrating the science behind Geological Disposal in a way that was fun and engaging.

“The experiment they did to explain the multi barrier system (the combination of man-made and natural barriers that would isolate and contain radioactive waste) was really effective and the Lego GDF was a big hit!

“All the students took a real interest and seemed to hugely enjoy the session.”

Allerdale Borough Council recently agreed to join a Community Partnership with the public, RWM and Cumbria Association of Local Councils which will discuss the possibilities of hosting a GDF in the area.

Discussion about the siting of GDF put the public at the heart of the conversation. The underground nuclear waste storage facility would not be built in a Search Area without the agreement of a willing host community.

The area of Allerdale being considered for the siting of GDF comprises the electoral wards of Aspatria; Broughton St Bridgets; Dalton; Ellen and Gilcrux; Flimby; Harrington and Salterbeck; Maryport North; Maryport South; Moorclose and Moss Bay; Seaton and Northside; St John’s; St Michael’s, Stainburn and Clifton.

Executive members of the council have been keen to point out that agreeing to join the Community Partnership was not an automatic agreement to GDF.

Council members want to be “at the discussion table” to fully understand their stance on GDF.

Deputy leader Marion Fitzgerald will represent the council in the talks and she has said that the community’s views are of utmost importance.

She said: "The Community Partnerships, there's no blueprint for them because they tend to evolve in their own way. I think unlike the MRWS process, RWM have been very clear from the beginning, this is based on community consent. The most important message from last week's meeting is this is in no way consent that Allerdale will host a GDF."