A three-dimensional image
of the proposed Romney Marsh underground nuclear waste centre

Thousands of newsletters are to be sent to homes after it was
revealed a £12bn nuclear waste site could be built on Romney
Marsh.

It comes after we revealed yesterday
how Shepway District Council has opened
up a major debate on whether the Marsh should have such a
centre.

It claims it could offset the loss of up to 1,000 jobs as the
Dungeness A and B stations are phased out.

The centre would be called the Romney Marsh Nuclear Research and
Disposal Facility.

The land area on the surface of the storage site
would cover 250 acres, more than 22 times bigger than Wembley
Stadium. The rubble and debris dug out would be equivalent to the
amount brought out during the building of the Channel Tunnel.

Now the council says it wants to hear from residents.

Officials say if the public rejects it the scheme will be
abandoned.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change wants to know if the
community wants to give a first collective approval called an
Express an Interest, without commitment. Three areas in
West Cumbria have already done so.

Cllr Godfrey said: “The council does not have a formal view
about whether the Marsh should host an NRDF. Our only view is that
local people should be given the opportunity to decide for
themselves if it is worth discussing the idea further.

“If the people of the Marsh do not support an Expression of
Interest this will end there.”

The council has begun to gauge local opinion by sending 10,000
newsletters to more than 10,000 homes on the Marsh and more than
650 businesses.

Local town and parish councils, including those in neighbouring
areas such as Rother and Ashford, are also being approached and a
series of exhibitions.

The times and places for these are:

• Noon to 8pm, Thursday May 24, Newchurch Village Hall.
• 10am 6pm, Friday May 25, Brookland Village Hall.
• Noon to 8pm, Wednesday, May 30, Hardy Hall, Lydd.
• 10am to 6pm. Thursday, May 31. Dungeness Lifeboat Station.
• Noon to 8pm, Thursday, June 7, Ship Inn, Dymchurch.
• 10am to 6pm. Friday, June 8. Scout Headquarters, Church Lane, New Romney.

After these exhibitions the community will have until July 20 to
give their views.

After this Shepway will collate all comments and decide whether
or not there is sufficient local backing to submit an Expression of
Interest to the DECC.

The department will then bring in geologists to find suitable
land and if public backing continues the council will set up a
partnership of local organisations to take the project further.

The site could be up and running in 2040 and there is a right to
withdraw from the project right up to the eve of construction,
which could happen in 2025.

For further information or to have your say visit www.romneymarshnrdf.org.uk, email haveyoursay@romneymarshnrdf.org.uk or write to the Chief Executive, Shepway District Council, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QY. Or phone Shepway council or 01303 853000.