MARK Jenkinson MP has expressed hope that there may be light at the end of the tunnel for West Cumbria’s long-awaited coking coal mine.
His comments come after the High Court has confirmed that a rolled up three-day court hearing will be held between 16th to 18th July to break the deadlock.
The Government granted approval of planning in December 2022, following on from the Planning Inquiry in September 2021.
But climate change protestors placed jobs and investment at risk when they mounted a series of legal challenges.
However, West Cumbria Mining has said that it continues to focus on preparatory works prior to commencement of real construction activity, no later than early 2025.
Mark said: “I hope we can now put an end to the nonsense once and for all and move on with this project despite the best efforts of middle-class climate clowns to scupper it.
“The Cumbrian coal mine, will support UK steelmaking and reduce the UK's carbon footprint, mitigating the need to import coking coal from overseas and curbing our reliance on hostile foreign states."
The mine is one of two major Cumbrian projects held up by what Mark called “blockers, naysayers and NIMBYs” – the second is £1.3bn scheme to upgrade a 29km stretch of the A66 between Cumbria and Yorkshire.
The vital duelling work to the A66 was granted development consent by the secretary of state for transport Mark Harper in March this year.
However, a campaign group calling themselves Transport Action Network (TAN) which has launched another legal challenge to the National Highways’ £1.3bn scheme.
Mark said: “Transport Action Network is a misnomer. It should be the Transport Inaction Network – or simply ‘roadblock’.
“The group has a lot in common with the mine protestors – not least their relentless whining and negativity.
“These people make a lot of noise but are very much in the minority. They don’t want to see more jobs and investment in Cumbria: they want to hold us back and stop the north unlocking its economic potential. I will fight them every step of the way.
“I hope progress and common sense prevail regarding the A66 and the mine – thanks in no small part to my continued support.”
