A public inquiry will be held into plans for the UK's first deep coal mine in 30 years after a government U-turn. Communities Secretary Mr Robert Jenrick has now decided to call in the controversial application for a West Cumbria Mining’s new mine near Whitehaven in Cumbria in UK. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government wrote that Mr Jenrick has decided to call this application in because of the further developments since his original decision "The secretary of state recognises that proponents and opponents take different positions on that matter, and considers that this should be explored during a public inquiry. Overall the secretary of state considers that this application raises planning issues of more than local importance." The letter also highlighted recent work by the Climate Change Committee, the UK's independent adviser on climate change, which has previously warned a new deep coking coal mine in Cumbria will increase global emissions. The government previously chose not to intervene over Cumbria County Council's approval of the plan. This was despite campaigners expressing environmental concerns and ministers being accused of hypocrisy as they focus on carbon-reducing efforts ahead of hosting the international COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow this year.
A public inquiry will be held into plans for the UK's first deep coal mine in 30 years after a government U-turn. Communities Secretary Mr Robert Jenrick has now decided to call in the controversial application for a West Cumbria Mining’s new mine near Whitehaven in Cumbria in UK. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government wrote that Mr Jenrick has decided to call this application in because of the further developments since his original decision "The secretary of state recognises that proponents and opponents take different positions on that matter, and considers that this should be explored during a public inquiry. Overall the secretary of state considers that this application raises planning issues of more than local importance." The letter also highlighted recent work by the Climate Change Committee, the UK's independent adviser on climate change, which has previously warned a new deep coking coal mine in Cumbria will increase global emissions. The government previously chose not to intervene over Cumbria County Council's approval of the plan. This was despite campaigners expressing environmental concerns and ministers being accused of hypocrisy as they focus on carbon-reducing efforts ahead of hosting the international COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow this year.
