West Cumbria coal mine: Campaigners respond to news decision expected by July

Aerial CGI of Woodhouse Colliery mine site

A campaign group has responded to the news that a decision on West Cumbria’s controversial coal mine is expected by July.

The BBC is reporting that planning inspector Stephen Normington has completed his report into the proposals and submitted it to the Government.

Now Michael Gove, Housing, Communities and Levelling Up Secretary, has until July 7 to issue a decision.

The plans, for a coking coal mine off the coast of Whitehaven by West Cumbria Mining, has been approved three times by local planners – the last time in October 2020 – but in February 2021, Cumbria County Council suspended its decision and the plans were called in for a Planning Inquiry.

Backers of the mine say it would create much-needed jobs in the area, while those against say it would damage the UK’s pledge to cut carbon emissions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also said he did not think it should go ahead.

Responding to the reports, Friends of the Earth’s head of England, Victoria Marsom, said: “With plans to produce green steel gathering pace across Europe, and the world in the middle of a climate emergency, the case against this coal mine is overwhelming.

“Britain’s abundant homegrown renewables are the future. Ministers must put Cumbria at the heart of transforming our energy system, and the thousands of new jobs this will bring.”