New mine quashed as the High Court rules against permission granted by the Conservative Government’s 2022 for the approval of a new coal mine at Whitehaven, Cumbria, despite it being Friday 13th!
Delighted campaigners gathered in Kendal and in Whitehaven, to hear the news together on Friday. West Cumbria Mining Ltd wanted to mine 2.78 million tonnes of coking coal every year until 2049. The majority was expected to be exported, as the last UK blast furnaces are ending coal use this year.
The Judge, Mr Justice Holgate ruled, “the assumption that the proposed mine would not produce a net increase in GHG emissions, or would be a net zero mine, is legally flawed.” He found in favour of 4 out of 5 grounds brought by South Lakes Action on Climate Change and Friends of the Earth. Maggie Mason, South Lakes Action on Climate Change said, “as ordinary responsible people, we saw this horrendous example of fossil fuel company arrogance, the weakness of our local government, we knew enough science to know the terrible impacts this would have on our beautiful planet and people, the poorest and most vulnerable first. We could not stand by and do nothing to prevent it. We needed to tell the truth, work hard and pitch in some money to get a legal team that understood the issues.”
Coal Action Network is thrilled that this new mine is quashed. It is possible the coal company could appeal and the government may choose to reconsider the application, but for now this is a great outcome for campaigners and the climate.