Congratulations to Sarah Finch and the Weald Action Group who have just won their case at the Supreme Court. They had challenged Surrey CC’s consent for a new oil well at Horse Hill near Gatwick Airport on the grounds that the greenhouse gas emissions from burning that oil had not been taken into account. SLACC members will be familiar with this long running case and the parallels with the Cumbria coal mine. The landmark ruling , and it’s potential implications for SLACC and FoE’s high Court Hearing on the 16th -18th July , are all over the papers and “X” this morning. View SLACC’S press release , Client Earths view , Cornerstone Barrister’s analysis and a Guardian article for more information.
SLACC’s legal team are in the process of finalising a “skeleton argument” for our Hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, and are also making submissions to the High Court about the effect of the Supreme Court’s judgement and whether the decision was unlawful on the basis that it considered the coal mine would be ‘carbon neutral’. West Cumbria MIning are no doubt also preparing submissions to argue that this judgement of the Supreme Court makes no difference to the coal mine, but be assured this is a VERY good day for all opponents of the coal mine, and opponents of other new fossil fuel extraction in the UK.