The Copeland GDF Working Group has today posted proposals for two Search Areas and associated Community Partnerships. One Search Area includes the electoral wards of Gosforth & Seascale and Beckermet. The second Search Area includes the electoral wards of Millom and Black Combe & Scafell. As previously announced, the area within the Lake District National Park and proposed extension will continue to be excluded from consideration.

Both Search Areas include consideration of geology deep off-shore with access from surface facilities on or near the coast.

Mark Cullinan, Chair of the Copeland GDF Working Group, said: “We are still in the very early part of the GDF journey and it’s up to the local authorities and RWM to now decide whether we progress further to forming Community Partnerships. We look forward to their decision in the coming weeks.”