By Elishya Perera
(CU)_Environmental campaigners have hailed Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick’s decision to “call in” the controversial application for a new coal mine on the Cumbrian coast, in North West England.
Previously the government chose not to intervene in the matter, despite concerns raised by climate activists and environmental campaigners, accusing the minister of hypocrisy as the government focuses on carbon-reducing efforts ahead of the international COP26 climate change summit, which will be hosted by the United Kingdom in November.
However, Jenrick has now changed his mind, saying the application raises planning issues of “more than local importance”. In a letter to Cumbria County Council, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the minister decided to call this application owing to “further developments since his original decision”, and will therefore hold a public inquiry to consider arguments put forward by both opponents and supporters of the proposal to open the mine near Whitehaven, Cumbria.
“The secretary of state [Jenrick] recognises that proponents and opponents take different positions on that matter, and considers that this should be explored during a public inquiry,” the letter read. “Furthermore controversy about the application has increased… Overall the secretary of state considers that this application raises planning issues of more than local importance.”
Liberal Democratic MP Tim Farron, who has been fighting against the application, hailed the “fantastic news”.
“In the year that Britain hosts COP26, it is blindingly obvious that we won’t be taken seriously on the world stage with this coal mine hanging round our neck,” he said.
He added that he hopes the public inquiry would lead the plans “to be axed”, and that the government would work on bringing “well-paid, long-term, green jobs” to Cumbria instead.
Meanwhile, Labour’s shadow business secretary, Ed Miliband, noted that after months of pressure over the issue, the government has “finally been forced to act”, adding that the mine is “terrible” for the United Kingdom’s fight against climate change.
“[It] won’t help our steel industry and won’t create secure jobs,” he noted.
“The saga of this mine is a symptom of a government that isn’t serious about its climate ambitions and refuses to invest at scale in a green future to provide the jobs that workers have a right to expect.”
