HELD ON SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2025
COMMENCING 2.00 PM IN KIRKSANTON VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT: Cllr A FELL (Chair), and 46 electors of the Parish, plus 12 observers
APOLOGIES Had been received from 9 electors
PM1/25: Mrs Lesley Cooper, Low Marshside, Underhill nr Millom Cumbria was elected
as clerk to the meeting
PM2/25: MINUTES
It was RESOLVED that the minutes from the Annual Parish Meeting held on
21 March 2024 be signed as a true and correct record.
PM3/25: CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
A copy of the Chair’s report was circulated at the meeting. The Chair gave a
brief overview of the report, thanking the councillors and the Clerk for all their
hard work and highlighting the work that the Parish Council had undertaken
on the following:
Café, Beach car park, Play areas, Silecroft phone box and Dog Fouling.
A copy of the report is attached to these minutes.
The Chair welcomed the speakers Michelle Scrogham MP and Martin
Walkingshaw, Chief Operating Officer, NWS and David Savage who was to
facilitate the next part of the meeting
PM4/25: Proposed Siting of a GDF within Whicham Parish
Michelle Scrogham MP introduced herself and stated there to listen to the
views of the community and to support their involvement in decision making.
Martin Walkingshaw stated that it had been agreed to plan some more drop in
sessions with experts on various topics to answer the questions of the
community.
GDF – National Significant Infrastructure programme c.£53bn to deal with
safe storage of high radioactive waste.
At this time unable to confirm which community will be the host, test of willing
community a long time away. Huge technical undertaking which cannot be
rushed. Would be transformational to the area selected with regards to jobs,
opportunities and investment within the community.
Maggie Cumming read out the letter received from Andrew Seekings,
Cumberland Council rejecting the offer to attend/send a representative to the
meeting.
The electors gathered wished for their disgust at this refusal to be sent to Mr
Seekings. MP to raise with Mr Seekings at next meeting.
PM5/25 Open Forum
Mr Savage outlined the purpose of the session and reminded attendees to be
respectful and to raise their voting cards if they wished to comment ask
questions. The following questions/comments/statements were asked
Define a community – this won’t be decided on until the test of public support
Proposed Nuclear Power Station site – withdrawn after evidence, look at the
historical content.
Why could an individual outside of the Parish, put the area forward as a
possible site?
Explained that Cumberland Council had the economic vision for the area.
Questioning whether the whole process is democratic, poor community
engagement.
Borehole process – question whether it was a waste of money of there wasn’t
a willing community – reaffirmed that the test of public support will come after
right geology found and prior to developing the facility.
Question on how do we get an official poll raised after confirmation that the
poll undertaken by WPC cannot be classed as official.
Urged to do homework on previous proposed nuclear plant/impacts. Bring
information in from Sweden (their site proposals approved).
Test of Public support to to geological site, 2030’s before that will happen,
only Local Authority or NWS can withdraw a community.
Why 2 proposed sites? Seascale further away to suitable geology. Confident
that geology stable, Need to demonstrate to agencies (Environment, Health &
Safety etc) adds to timescales.
Suggested that the process is not working and requires tweaking.
Little talk about geography of an area, no mention of evacuation plans, local
infrastructure/roads/railways, increased volumes of road traffic. -Siting factors
have to be taken into consideration, opportunity for communities to state what
they need with regards to improvements for their community/investment.
Mr Walkingshaw stated it was important for the community to engage with
Cumberland Council on benefits to the community.
Houses
Process one sided – houses not selling. Vendors must disclose potential.
How long does the compulsory purchase order last?
Impacting on housing stock, stop business plans/curtails development
Property value scheme monitoring house prices, must have a compelling
need to sell.
GDF does not show up on property searches, one resident recently
purchased in December 2021 and was told should have known about it.
Sellers advised to declare it on disclosure list.
No compensation if you want to leave.
Tourism
Strong sense of Community, impact on tourism
Why can’t the community be withdrawn?
Proposed motion
A resident proposed the following motion that
“Whicham Parish Council issues a press statement objecting to the area of
focus within it’s parish and makes representation to NWS and Cumberland
Council that the area of focus be removed for a GDF”
A vote was taken of electors present and carried unanimously.
PM6/25 The Chair thanked the speakers and residents for attending the meeting
The meeting closed at 4pm
PM7/23: DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next Annual Parish meeting will be held between 1 March and 1 June
2026 ,
Signed……………………………………………………. Dated………………………………………