Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, recently started the process of actuallly deciding whether West Cumbria Mining’s palnning permission should be given permission again, even though the Decision to Approve that her predecessor, Michael Gove made in December 2022 ws “quashed” by the High Court in September 2024.
This is the normal process, although maybe earlier than we had hoped. On 7th February 2025, the mining company, SLACC , Friends of the Earth and Cumberland Council were all invited to submit a list of issues and changed circumstances to the Planning Inspectorate. the deadline is today , 27th February, and (at nearly 3.00 pm) SLACC’s submission is nearly ready to send. It is costing SLACC some money, so we have been inviting donations on www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-cumbria-coal-mine-again/.
We cannot predict what will happen. Cumberland Councillors have all been told the Council will maintain the neutral stance they took at the Public Inquiry in 2021. West Cumbria Mining’s lawyers might respond to try to get their planning consent back, or we might hear in a few days that they have given up. In either case, Angela Rayner will decide what to do and let us all know. We will keep you informed.