A public inquiry has started on West Cumbria Mining’s plans for a £160 million metallurgical coal mine under the seabed near Whitehaven off the coast of Cumbria.
TIMELINE
The inquiry follows a decision by the Secretary of State for Local Government, Housing and Communities Robert Jenrick to call in the application for Woodhouse Colliery despite previously twice refusing to do so.
His decision came after a letter in December 2020 from the chairman of the Climate Change Committee, Lord Debden, warning that the proposals could undermine the UK’s leadership of the forthcoming COP26.
Cumbria County Council had previously approved the plans but in May 2020 announced it would adopt a position of neutrality.
The plans have attracted strong local, national and international support and opposition.
ONLINE
The hearing is being conducted online via the Planning Inspectorate’s YouTube channel and is expected to last some four weeks.
At the end of the inquiry, planning inspector Stephen Normington will make his recommendation to Mr Jenrick before a final decision is made in Spring 2022.