A new coalmine for Cumbria: yes or no?

摘要

Given the UK's stated ambitions to be at forefront of the global shift away from fossil fuels, plans to build a new deep coalmine in Cumbria were always likely to be controversial. The proposed mine, Woodhouse Colliery near Whitehaven in Cumbria would be used to supply metallurgical (or coking) coal to the steel industry. It would also be the UK's first new deep coal mine in 30 years. Whilst Cumbria county council granted planning permission for the facility in October 2020, the plans have since been thrown into doubt. First the council announced that it was reconsidering the proposal after reviewing fresh information from the UK government's climate change committee. Then the company behind the mine, West Cumbria Mining announced that it was taking legal action against the council for what it describes as a "devastating" eleventh hour rethink. Most recently -as this issue went to press -the government announced a public inquiry.