A decade of Cumbria’s coal mine controversy 

In the context of net zero targets and carbon cutting consensus, opening a new coal mine in one of the world’s most developed countries was always going to be highly controversial.

Still, West Cumbria Mining’s plan to do so in Whitehaven became far more than just a pipe dream. It gained approval, not once, but four times in the space of four years. Yet now, it’s a case all but closed after a fatal blow dealt by the High Court, which rejected the plans in September.

So, the end looks nigh for a proposal that first surfaced in 2014. A decade on, it’s a saga that very nearly paved the way for the UK’s first deep coal mine in more than 30 years.

The plan was to extract coking coal for use in steel making, promising hundreds of jobs in a deprived area with a mining history dating back to the 13th century. It gained widespread support locally and Cumbria County Council unanimously approved the plans in 2019. It would do so on two further occasions.

Objections came from far and wide, including the Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg, who in 2021 criticised the UK government for not intervening in the plans. Two months later, it did intervene, with the then communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, stating the application raised issues of “more than local importance”. Indeed, this was in essence local and global perspectives pitted against each other. The UK government, caught in the middle, ordered a public inquiry.

What followed was an intensification of the arguments. The economy versus the environment. Few would dispute Whitehaven’s status as a town in need of an economic boost. Local employment opportunities are limited outside the nuclear industry, although the jobs promised by West Cumbria Mining would not have been highly skilled. In a similar vein, few would dispute the environmental impact of burning coal. Supporters argued the mine would reduce dependence on imports, although Channel 4 News revealed the British steel industry didn’t require its coal. Meanwhile climate experts saw the plans as incompatible with the UK’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050.

Almost as eye-catching as the arguments was the timing of the public inquiry in 2021. It concluded just weeks before the UK hosted the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. A year later, the government gave its delayed verdict. The mine was given the go-ahead. As soon as the news broke, campaigners vowed to challenge the decision.

Legal action was brought by two campaign groups and in September the High Court ruled in their favour, quashing the project. Lawyers representing West Cumbria Mining said the development would have a “broadly neutral effect on the global release of greenhouse gas”.

The judge said the assumption that the mine would not increase greenhouse gas emissions was “legally flawed”. It followed a landmark Supreme Court ruling in June.

West Cumbria Mining has not provided an update since the High Court ruling and missed the deadline to appeal. The final decision rests with Communities Secretary Angela Rayner. Given Labour dropped its defence of the mine before the High Court hearing, it seems inevitable the government will reject the plans once and for all.

The saga highlights a decisive turn away from fossil fuel extraction. For years climate scientists have pointed to clean energy projects instead, including for West Cumbria.

So often the response to that in Whitehaven has been ‘where are these green jobs?’. A response that will surely continue in the absence of an alternative project to get behind.

After enduring the twists and turns of the past decade, it’s hard to blame their cynicism.