Daily Mirror

NEW PIT WAR

Deep coal mine a ‘backwards step’

- BY JEREMY ARMSTRONG jeremy.armstrong@mirror.co.uk @jeremyatmi­rror

CONTROVERS­IAL plans for the UK’s first deep coal mine in 30 years are set to go ahead, to the fury of green campaigner­s.

The Government could have called in the scheme for an inquiry but has chosen not to.

It follows Cumbria county council’s approval of the £165million West Cumbria Mining plan in Whitehaven in October. Local MP Tim

Farron, the former Lib Dem leader, said the decision is a “complete disaster for our children’s future” and a “backwards step in the fight against climate change”. West Cumbria Mining says the mine – which will extract coal from beneath the Irish Sea – will create 500 jobs.

But environmen­talists say employment should be generated by investing in clean energy.

Friends of the Earth spokesman Tony Bosworth said the scheme “undermines the Government’s credibilit­y on the climate crisis”.

A council spokesman said it “will work with the developer to formalise planning obligation­s”.

 ??  ?? CONCERNS Tim Farron
CONCERNS Tim Farron

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