A legal challenge against plans for a new coal mine off the coast of West Cumbria is moving forward.
Trustees of South Lakes Action on Climate Change have agreed to ask its legal team to challenge the Government’s decision to approve West Cumbria Mining’s scheme for the £160m mine off Whitehaven.
It would be Britain’s first coal mine in 30 years and produce coking coal for the steel industry.
The plans had been approved at a county level, but were then called in to the Government by the action group and Friend of the Earth.
A planning inquiry was held and last month, Michael Gove, Minister for Levelling Up, said the mine could go ahead.
But opponents vowed to continue fighting the plans.
On Friday, Government lawyers replied to SLACC’s pre-action protocol letter, the charity said.
It added: “This will help us refine our claim, which must be lodged at the High Court by Friday January 13. Work on our legal challenge, how it dovetails with the challenge by Friends of the Earth, and how potential costs can be covered continues.
“We believe there is a strong legal case against the interpretation of planning law made by the planning inspector and (hence) the Government.”
Reasons for and against the West Cumbria coal mine
We asked SLACC and supporters group We Support West Cumbria Mining for their reasons behind their respective stances over the mine last year.
