West Cumbria is already home to the Sellafield plant

A conservation charity is urging outdoor enthusiasts to tell the Government their views on building an underground store for radioactive waste.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change is running a public consultation on choosing a site for nuclear waste in England.

It follows the failure to find a suitable location after Cumbria County Council put paid to Government plans to use parts of the West of the County earlier this year.

Cumbria, home to major nuclear installations in and around Sellafield, was the only area in the country to express an interest in hosting the facility.

The plans aroused opposition as one of three potential venues was the unspoilt valley of Ennerdale.

Now, the Friends of the Lake District said it is concerned about the new process to find a site for the highly radioactive waste produced by the UK’s nuclear industry.

The charity said: “Vitally, the decision-making process sidelines county councils’ waste and strategic planning expertise, lacks independent evaluation and fails to truly engage with all relevant affected groups, organisations and communities, including town and parish councils.

Ennerdale was one area earmarked for potential underground radioactive waste storage

“The Friends of the Lake District response to this consultation highlights that the proposed decision-making process represents a step backwards, with fundamental changes needed to gain public confidence and trust.”

The Friends said they had joined he newly formed Cumbria Trust, set up to protect the safety and security of the people of Cumbria and to champion the county’s interests, it said.

The organisation has its roots in the campaign against the failed Managing Radioactive Waste Safely process, the previous consultation on whether west Cumbria should host an underground nuclear waste store, it said it has a neutral stance on nuclear power.

Jack Ellerby, Friends of the Lake District’s policy officer said: “The consultation rightly says that this is a national issue, requiring a national overview to find the safest possible location.

“We hope that the Government will take on board our recommended changes to make the next process one that is trusted, independently verified, engages meaningfully with all affected communities and interests and allows for open public discussion and scrutiny at each stage in the decision-making process.”

The Friends said there should be a national commission to oversee the process, determining which areas go forward based on suitable geology and other safety and environmental conditions.

Identification of safe and suitable geology conditions should come before choosing communities willing to volunteer.

The local decision making body should be representative of all the community interests, including county councils, parish and town councils and other affected organisations, the group said. There should also be a legally binding, continuous right of withdrawal at any stage.

Intrusive test boreholes, surface infrastructure or underground store should not be allowed within, or adversely affect, national and international protected areas, such as national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, world heritage sites or Natura 2000 wildlife sites.

Members of the public have until 5 December to make their views known via the online Department of Energy and Climate Change website.