Hundreds of residents have had their say on what they want for their community, for future generations.

One of the key roles the Community Partnership (CP) has been given is to develop a community vision and consider the part a GDF may play in that vision.

Topics we want to hear about and discuss include the local economy, tourism, educational opportunities, and how to protect and enhance the natural and built environment in the area.

Work to create this vision began in early 2024, through the formation of a vision subgroup which includes CP Members, representatives of Lincolnshire County Council, East Lindsey District Council and Nuclear Waste Services.

It is important that residents and local stakeholders have plenty of opportunities to tell us what needs to change to ‘make the area a good place to live for future generations.’  

Reaching out – we received over six hundred pieces of feedback.

• We sent every household a vision leaflet, feedback card and return freepost envelope.
• Provided a survey form online to allow people to provide their feedback on the website.
  84 online responses have been shared with us so far.
• We had a vision stand at the following local events.
  • Poppies on the Prom where 51 people shared their views.
  • Mablethorpe Carnival where we had a vision wall, (see photo above) created by local children and adults. 177 people shared their transformational vision views during the event.
  • NWS GDF Events: Discover the world of a Geological Disposal Facility, at the Dunes, where CP members were happy to chat to visitors.

For anyone that prefers to speak to someone in person, our team can usually be found at the Mablethorpe Coastal Centre on Tuesdays.

Carl Richardson is the CP lead for the Community Vision workstream. Talking about the work to date, Carl explained,

“How do you develop a community vision that creates opportunity, improves our weaknesses, enhances our resilience, and supports transformational change to benefit everyone’s lives beyond tomorrow, next week, next year, the next generation, beyond what we currently hear, feel, think, or taste?

“It’s a tough question, but the team vision recipe for success is a large portion of community views, a twist of local business’ input, a pinch of existing area strategies, a sprinkling of local and statutory authority’s needs and then bake slowly for 9 months to create the cake that we all can feast on to enhance “Our Place, Our Economy, Our Education and Our Environment.”

Why has the CP been asked to create a vision?

Deciding on a suitable site for a GDF will take many years. This time gives the Community Partnership, residents and stakeholders a real opportunity to think about how a GDF could benefit our community over the long term as the UK Government will provide Significant Additional Investment to the community that is selected to host a GDF.

The process of building a community vision will help our CP identify and articulate what is important for future generations in the area. To enable them to do this the CP need input from people living in the Search Area. It is they who will benefit most.

Our CP will build a vision that complements relevant existing local and regional policies, strategies, and plans.​

Creating a local vision is important as it contributes to the CP’s Programme of Activities (PoA) and helps influence the priorities for future Community Investment Funding.​

The government has committed to providing Significant Additional Investment (SAI) to the community that hosts a GDF. Our community vision must set out what the need is and agreed plans for this funding.​

The Team Vision Commitment

We want to create a Community Partnership led vision, shaped by the community, which maximises opportunities for the future, with a view to improve and enhance our Place, our Economy, our Education & our Environment. A vision that celebrates our valued strengths and aims to improve our weaknesses to benefit the lives of all

What is next?

Key dates:

• The online form is open until 31 December for feedback. Add your views using this link – What is your community vision?
• Focus groups will be held in January 2025.
• The CP will be running a public event in March to share progress so far, details to be confirmed.