Coal Action Network is one of several organisations that campaigned for years to stop the coking coal mine proposed by West Cumbria Mining Ltd from ever starting. This new coal mine would have jeopardised the UK's climate commitments. In April 2025, following a successful legal challenge and subsequent rejection of its coal licence, West Cumbria Mining Ltd finally withdrew its planning application, admitting defeat. First and foremost, this is a win for the local community opposing the mine over many years.
The proposed West Cumbria Coal mine lost its planning permission in September 2024. Since then its application to get a full coal mining license was refused by the Coal Authority, another nail in the coffin of the proposed coking coal mine.
Victory! The High Court overturns the 2022 planning permission to mine coal at Whitehaven.
From Tuesday 16th July to lunchtime 18th July, Lord Holgate heard the case, brought by South Lakes Action on Climate Change and Friends of the Earth, against the Government’s 2022 approval of a new underground coal mine at Whitehaven.
Coal Action Network asked Who will stop coal? last weekend in Whitehaven, West Cumbria. At the site of the proposed coal mine, members of the local community and supporters gathered to ensure that the question of the mine is being put to election candidates. Now we need you to crank up the pressure and make sure all election candidates across the UK faces this question as they could decide the fate of the coal mine if elected…
The legal challenges against the government’s approval of a new coal mine off the coast of Cumbria will be heard in London on the 16th to 18th July.
After a week of peaceful protest around the world, alongside hundreds of groups, our efforts have paid off. Yet another leading insurance company, Probitas, has ruled out insuring the proposed West Cumbria coal mine and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
EMR Capital, the company that owns 81% of the proposed West Cumbria Coal mine is currently operating another coking coal mine – Kestrel.
How did we get here? Ten years of events that have led to where we currently stand with the proposed Whitehaven coal mine
People hailing from Cumbria to London, and everywhere in between, descended on the Mines and Money Conference in London across two days (28th-29th Nov 2023). We demanded that investors stop pouring cash into the mining sector, and instead invest in our collective future. Together with Fossil Free London and other groups, we greeted investors with…
This page gives suggestions of answers to some of the more detailed questions campaigners get asked about West Cumbria Mining Ltd’s plans for Whitehaven.
The insurers that have ruled out underwriting the mine are AEGIS Managing Agency, Argenta Syndicate Management, Hannover Re and Talanx. These are the first financial institutions to rule out any involvement with the project, and the win represents a new phase in the campaign to stop the project from going ahead.
25 large banners opposing the proposed new coal mine near Whitehaven with the words ‘NO TIME for a COAL MINE’ were dropped on all the roads entering Cumbria on the 25th August.
The legal challenges against the Government’s approval of a new coking coal mine in Cumbria has been delayed from October, likely into the new year. A Supreme Court judgement on a related case causes the delay, as the decision is awaited.
Regular events are planned for outside the proposed site at Whitehaven. Come and show your support for leaving the coal in the ground.
A High Court judge has given the go ahead for 2 legal challenges over the government’s decision to grant planning permission for a controversial new underground coking coal mine in West Cumbria to proceed to a 3 day hearing in October 2023.
Groups have taken action since the government approved a new coal mine proposed for Whitehaven, Cumbria—including: Chris Packham joined Friends of the Earth, Extinction Rebellion and others…
Two legal challenges have been launched against the government’s approval of a new coking coal mine in Cumbria. Find out the details.
On Wednesday (21/12/2022) a gang of Santas delivered sacks of ‘naughty list coal’ to Michael Gove at his Department of Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities office in Whitehall on behalf of Coal Action Network and Lush cosmetics. Holding signs reading “Christmas coal for climate criminal…