Radiation Free Lakeland has hit-out at what it calls the ‘Law of the Nuke Landfill.’

The local campaign group say that the nuclear industry is enjoying the benefit of unjust and unfair laws that result in radioactive waste in landfill.  

RFL claim that the laws run  counter to the protection of human health and the environment are quietly being passed both here and in the EU.

A press release issued today by Radiation Free Lakeland says: “At Lillyhall in Cumbria (pictured), there is a landfill site to which no one objected in 2004 when the planning application was for a “composting and material processing area.”  

“Following a law quietly passed in 2007  Low Level Waste was re-classified as High Volume Very Low Level Waste suitable for landfill.  Lillyhall is now receiving tonnes of radioactive detritus – no planning application needed!

“Landfill in Cumbria is set to be filled with millions of tonnes of radioactive rubble and soil from Chapel Cross in Scotland and other nuclear installations. 

“While Cumbrians are Reducing, Reusing and Recycling, the nuclear industry is desperate to fill our landfill with contaminated detritus in order to make room for new nuclear build.

“The regulatory bodies such as the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive that were set up to protect human health and the environment are going along with this cynical and systematic erosion of our human right to a safe, healthy and unpolluted environment.

“The nuclear juggernaught has friends in high places who disingenuously insist that nuclear power can be justified because it is climate friendly – despite the industry  producing greenhouse gases hundreds of times more potent than CO2 and being absolutely reliant on fossil fuel.  Sellafield buys £30m of gas yearly.

“There are two upcoming opportunities to oppose the nuclear juggernaught and instead say a strong yes to a viable future. 

“The first is to oppose the new European Nuclear Waste Directive which aims to force  the “disposal” of  intermediate and high level wastes at the expense of safety. 

“The Directive is pandering to the industry’s desire to get “disposal” adopted as the legally binding option for waste  to smooth the way for more nuclear power plants.”

The deadline for the consultation on this is 31st May and RFL is recommending that Cumbrians should send an email
to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The second opportunity is to attend the Keekle Head planning meeting on 22nd June in Kendal. 

The  nuclear industry wants to dispose of 12 lorries a day of  radioactive wastes in the former open cast coal mine of Keekle Head – near to the source of the river Keekle (recently featured on BBC Countryfile as an important salmon river worth millions to the Cumbrian economy). 

The radioactive wastes would leach into the land and there would be adverse impact on the environment and health of residents –
cynically called “receptors” by the industry.  

Anyone wanting more details should e-mail
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