Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Withdrawal of Whitehaven Coalmine Planning Application Marks End of Controversial Project
The planning application for the Whitehaven coalmine has been officially withdrawn, concluding a contentious process that could have led to the establishment of the UK’s first deep coalmine in three decades, located in Cumbria.
This development comes on the heels of a high court ruling that annulled the previous planning permission last year, prompting the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to reevaluate the proposal. However, the mining company has opted to withdraw its application, signaling a significant shift in the project’s trajectory.
The court’s decision, rendered in September, deemed the coalmine’s approval unlawful, siding with the environmental group Friends of the Earth, which had initiated the judicial review. The court concluded that former Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove, acted beyond his authority by endorsing West Cumbria Mining’s assertion that the mine would not affect the UK’s commitments under the Climate Change Act 2008. The company had previously claimed it could achieve net zero emissions by purchasing international carbon credits, a strategy that the UK government does not permit for fulfilling carbon budgets.
A crucial factor in the court’s decision was the exclusion of potential emissions from the proposed mine in the developer’s climate analysis. Legal challenges against new fossil fuel ventures appear increasingly precarious following a pivotal ruling by the Supreme Court, which invalidated permission for an oil drilling project at Horse Hill in Surrey. This landmark decision emphasized the necessity of accounting for the climate impact of fossil fuel combustion when evaluating new projects.
Tony Bosworth, a climate campaigner with Friends of the Earth, expressed satisfaction with the resolution of this protracted issue, commending the local activists who fervently opposed the mine. “We’re delighted this long-running saga has finally drawn to a close. Congratulations to all the brilliant local campaigners who fought so powerfully to stop this mine,” he stated.
He further criticized the former government for its initial approval of what he labeled a “highly polluting and unnecessary coalmine,” asserting that West Cumbria Mining should have reconsidered its plans earlier, particularly after the court comprehensively invalidated the planning permission and rejected coal licenses.
Source
www.theguardian.com