The people of Theddlethorpe and Greater Lincolnshire deserve better than being dumped on—literally. The plan to build a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) in Theddlethorpe is a disgraceful example of how little our local councils and national government listen to communities.
This isn't just about opposing nuclear waste. It's about standing up against a broken process—one that has been riddled with secrecy, misinformation, and a complete failure to consult the people who live here.
Lack of Proper Consultation
From the very start, this project has been pursued with minimal transparency. Local residents have been treated like an afterthought, with councils and government agencies making decisions behind closed doors. The so-called "community consultation" has been nothing more than a box-ticking exercise designed to create the illusion of local involvement while ignoring genuine concerns.
People in Theddlethorpe and across Lincolnshire deserve real answers, not PR spin. They deserve a vote, not vague reassurances. They deserve respect, not decisions imposed from above.
Unclear Risks, Uncertain Benefits
What do we actually know about this facility's safety? What are the long-term environmental risks? What happens if something goes wrong? The government has failed to provide clear, evidence-backed answers. Instead, they expect us to simply trust that everything will be fine.
Lincolnshire is being asked to take on a permanent nuclear waste site without any guarantee of local economic benefits. Jobs? They will be few and far between. Safety? We are supposed to believe that a facility burying radioactive material deep underground is no threat to our coastline, farmland, or drinking water.
If this is such a "safe" and "necessary" project, why not put it near Westminster or in one of the many empty offices in Whitehall? The reality is they wouldn't dare. Instead, they choose areas like ours, assuming we will simply accept it.
A Failure of Leadership
Where has Lincolnshire County Council been during all of this? Where have our local representatives been? Instead of fighting for residents, they have stood by as the process rolls forward, acting more like administrators of a done deal than champions of the people they were elected to represent.
This isn't leadership—it's cowardice.
What Needs to Happen
1. A Binding Local Referendum – If this is truly about "community consent," let the people decide. No referendum, no GDF.
2. Independent Environmental and Safety Reviews – Full transparency on risks, costs and benefits reviewed by independent experts, not government-approved committees.
3. Scrap the GDF in Lincolnshire – There is no justification for our county being forced to bear the burden of nuclear waste.
This fight is far from over. As Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, I will oppose this facility at every stage. I will fight for the rights of residents to have a real say over their own future. And I will demand accountability from those who have pushed this plan forward without consent.
No to GDF. No to Theddlethorpe becoming a dumping ground. Lincolnshire deserves better.
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