Mining firm withdraws plan for UK's first deep coalmine in 30 years
Planning permission for the mine was quashed in the high court last year which meant the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had to reassess the planning application. However, the company has now written to the government withdrawing its planning application.
The Whitehaven mine was ruled unlawful in September with the judge agreeing with Friends of the Earth, which brought the judicial review, that Michael Gove, when he was secretary of state for levelling up, acted unlawfully in accepting a claim by West Cumbria Mining (WCM) that the mine would be 'net zero' and have no impact on the country's ability to meet the emissions cuts required under the Climate Change Act 2008, because it was relying on offsetting through buying carbon credits from abroad. UK government policy does not allow reliance on international offsets to meet carbon budgets.
Emissions from the burning of the coal from the proposed Whitehaven mine were not included in the developer's climate assessment. New fossil fuel projects are thought to be on shakier legal ground after the precedent set by a landmark supreme court decision that quashed planning permission granted for an oil drilling well at Horse Hill on the Weald in Surrey. The judgment found that the climate impact of burning coal, oil and gas must be taken into account when deciding whether to approve projects.
Tony Bosworth, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: 'We're delighted this long-running saga has finally drawn to a close. Congratulations to all the brilliant local campaigners who fought so powerfully to stop this mine.
'The previous government should never have given the green light for this highly polluting and unnecessary coalmine in the first place – and WCM should have pulled the plug on it last year when planning permission was comprehensively quashed and coal licences were refused.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Universal UK: 18,000 register for Bedfordshire theme park jobs
More than 18,000 people have expressed interest in jobs at the proposed Universal Studios theme park in the US firm has asked the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for permission to build a resort at Kempston Hardwick, near Bedford, and a public consultation is taking place until 31 has now posted an update on its website, insisting "strong interest and enthusiasm continues".The firm said more than 80% of the 18,000 people who have registered interest in working at the theme park live in Bedford or the surrounding areas. It is expected to attract 8.5 million visitors annually, with 55,000 visitors on peak days, making it one of the most visited theme parks in to the scale of the project, which included upgrading local roads and rail links, Universal required a Special Development Order (SDO) before it could start has claimed it will generate nearly £50bn of economic benefit and create 28,000 June, a form was added to the Universal UK website for people to register interest in "future job opportunities".About 2,000 suppliers have also expressed interest in working with the park. There had been some criticism from residents; those living closest to the site have told the BBC they felt "forgotten".Campaign group Generation Rent expressed concern that private renters could lose their homes when construction workers move to the council in the nearby town of Ampthill is worried the increased visitors could cause traffic their latest online update, Universal said: "The planning process facilitates open dialogue and feedback, and we appreciate Bedford Borough's commitment to that process and continued support of our proposed development."We are excited about the significant opportunities our planned project presents and remain fully committed to ensuring our SDO application is thoroughly vetted." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Council tax bills could be about to change - and you would pay less each month
At present, council tax bills are normally spread over ten months every year - but a new shake-up wants to make 12 months the default Council tax bills will be spread out over 12 months by default under Government proposals that are currently being discussed. It means you would pay less each month, although your overall council tax bill for the year would remain the same. At present, council tax bills are normally spread over ten months from April to January every year. This is because when you pay in ten instalments, you don't pay a council tax bill in February and March. You can request your payments be split over 12 months but the proposals, which were first announced in June, want to make this the default. The average band D household would pay approximately £38 less each month if they paid over 12 months, according to figures from the the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The average council tax bill for a band D property is currently £2,280. You will still be able to request to pay your council tax bill over ten months if you want to. The consultation is also proposing slowing down the debt collection process for when someone has missed a council tax payment. If you miss just one council tax payment, you can be asked to pay the rest of your yearly bill upfront. Councils can then send in bailiffs if you continue to not pay, which results in added legal costs being added to your bill. The consultation is looking at capping additional costs and ensuring households are given information about what help they could be entitled to, if they are struggling to pay. It will also become easier to challenge your council tax band, if you believe you may be paying too much. There are also proposals to change the name of the "severe mental impairment" discount to "significant cognitive impairment" discount. The consultation on these changes to the council tax system is due to end on September 12, with any changes set to be confirmed in autumn. Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE said: 'As part of our Plan for Change, we're putting working people first. 'We are listening and taking action to make council tax fairer, more transparent and easier to manage. Under our plans, local government will be there to support, and not to punish, people who fall behind.' Cut your council tax bill Check if you're eligible for some sort of council tax discount. For example, your bill is reduced by 25% if you live alone, or if you are classed as severely mentally impaired, or you claim benefits, you may be entitled to 100% off your bill. If you're in too high of a council tax band, you may be able to challenge this and get thousands of pounds back, plus lower bills going forward. But do your research first, as if you're in too low of a council tax band, your future bills will go up.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Environment groups are too white and middle class, says green boss
The new boss of a major British environmental group said membership has become too white and middle class. Asad Rehman, who became the first person of colour to lead Friends of the Earth this week, said more needed to be done as he pledged to develop a diverse movement. Analysis by the Race Report campaign last year found environmental and conservation groups were among the least diverse across the UK. Just 4.5 per cent of their staff were non-white, compared with 16 per cent within the working population as a whole. When asked about the statement on diversity, Mr Rehman said: 'It has been a fair critique, absolutely. 'If we want to be a force for change, you have to look like and be part of the fabric of this country - and that is diverse and it's diverse in class, it's diverse in ethnicity, diverse geographically.' The chief executive was previously at the anti-poverty group War on Want. He said the possibility of a future Reform government, and the rise of the far right, 'keeps me awake at night'. He told The Times: 'We are heading towards, I think, a divisive, racist, dystopian future. Or we have a future which is prosperous, united, more coherent, cohesive, strong, community diverse. That's the one I'm fighting for.' Nigel Farage recently branded fracking for natural gas 'vital', and vowed to lift a moratorium on the extraction method. The controversial technique was imposed after small earthquakes in Lancashire in both 2018 and 2019. Mr Rehman said the Reform UK leader was in for 'a shock' at the backlash from rural working-class voters, if he were to run for election on a pro-fracking promise. He added that Friends of the Earth would argue an expansion of renewable energy, as well as increasing the energy efficiency of properties, are the best ways to reduce the cost of energy bills. Friends of the Earth is a top international environmental organisation with a network of member groups and local activist groups around the world. It homes in on environmental issues and promotes solutions for a sustainable future through campaigns and legal action. Friends of the Earth is well known for its work on climate justice, protecting nature, and advocating for environmental and social justice.
