Cumbria CC's cabinet today rejected proposals to store nuclear waste underground in the county by 7 votes to 3.

The local authority vetoed the move to progress to ‘stage four' of the search for a site to hold a £12bn radioactive waste facility – known as a geological disposal facility (GDF) - in west Cumbria.

Stage four includes detailed geological investigations and discussions over the implications.

As a result the process will be brought to a close despite Copeland BC voting in favour of the plans and Allerdale BC due to vote later today. This is due to a previous agreement that both borough and county councils had to approve the plans.

At the meeting today Cumbria CC leader Eddie Martin said it was the ‘most courageous and pivotal decision' the council could make.

In response Department for Energy and Climate Change ministers said they would ‘embark on a renewed drive' to advance the case to local authorities for hosting such a facility and would consult with Cumbria on ‘what lessons can be learned'.

Energy and Climate Change secretary Ed Davey said he respected the decision but it was ‘disappointing'.

‘We remain firmly committed to geological disposal as the right policy for the long-term, safe and secure management of radioactive waste. We also remain committed to the principles of voluntarism and a community-led approach.

‘The fact that Copeland voted in favour of entering the search for a potential site for a GDF demonstrates that communities recognise the benefits associated with hosting such a facility.

‘For any host community there will be a substantial community benefits package, worth hundreds of millions of pounds. That is in addition to the hundreds of jobs and major investment that such a huge infrastructure project could bring,' Mr Davey said.

Cumbria's decision delighted environmental campaigners including Friends of the Earth, who said they were not sure which way the vote would go.