New angles in bid to halt oil drilling plan

AN ENVIRONMENTAL campaign group says it aims to present new arguments to a planning inspector who oversaw an inquiry into proposals to open a deep coal mine in Cumbria.

Friends of the Earth said a ruling by Court of Appeal judges relating to an oil well in Surrey might have implications for the planned mine on the edge of Whitehaven.

A spokesman said a lawyer aimed to write to an inspector who oversaw a planning inquiry into the mine plan, spelling out the implications of the appeal ruling. He said the mine planning inquiry had been staged in September – and the inspector had yet to make a recommendation.

Campaigner Sarah Finch had challenged Surrey County Council’s decision to allow a well near her home in Redhill to be extended. She said the council had failed to assess “the indirect greenhouse gas impacts” and environmental protection issues. A High Court judge had ruled against her and on Thursday three Court of Appeal judges dismissed her appeal by a two-to-one majority.