THE SEARCH for a radioactive waste site is taking step a forward, with North-East residents invited to the first of a series of public consultation workshops to be held across the country.

Radioactive Waste Management (RWM), the organisation responsible for delivering a geological disposal facility (GDF) for the country’s radioactive waste, will hold the workshop at Newcastle’s Royal Station Hotel from 11am to 3pm on Tuesday October 6.

The workshops will run alongside a public consultation seeking views on RWM’s proposed approach to gathering and presenting information on the geology of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A RWM spokesman said: “A GDF will provide a permanent and safer solution to dispose of the UK’s higher activity radioactive waste while it decays, safely away from people and the environment, deep underground.

“At the moment there are 20 sites in the UK where radioactive waste is kept at surface level stores.

“If all the UK’s most radioactive waste from our pasts and future were put together it would fill just over half of Wembley Stadium.

“RWM will work closely with communities to find a suitable site for the facility from 2017 onwards, following a period of information gathering, which includes national geological screening.”

RWM has arranged a workshop in the North-East to ensure anyone interested has an opportunity to meet with its experts and learn more about the consultation. The event will

The workshop will involve presentations, easy-to-understand demonstrations, group discussions and opportunity for questions to RWM experts.

Natalyn Ala, GDF siting director at RWM said: “Geology is a key factor in determining where a GDF can be built because although the radioactive waste will be contained inside robust multiple man-made barriers, these work with the natural barrier of rock to provide a safer and permanent solution for our most radioactive wastes in the longer term.

“Our consultation and workshops provide everyone interested with an opportunity to comment on the sources of information we plan to use, how we present this and whether there is anything else we should consider."

Those wishing to register to attend the workshop or access the consultation documents, should visit: http://www.nda.gov.uk/rwm/national-geological-screening/consultation.