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West Cumbria coal mine proposal

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.

ACTIONS & NEWS

Flawed grounds of Michael Gove’s shock approval of the Whitehaven coal mine

The UK Government has produced a 15 page letter plus appendices which outlines the reasons for granting permission to the Whitehaven coal mine application (Ref: 4/17/9007). This is mostly in the form of highlighting points on which Michael Gove agrees with…

Twitter-Storm against Cumbria coking coal mine

Following the shocking decision that the UK government are allowing a new underground coking coal mine under the sea by Whitehaven Cumbria, we invite you to show your disdain and join our protest. The action is a twitter ‘storm’ now that a decision has been made.

Whitehaven coking coal mine approved

At the end of 2021, Boris Johnson said, “I’m not in favour of more coal” in response to questions about the proposed Whitehaven coking coal mine during the Glasgow COP26 climate summit. Yet today a massive new underground coking coal mine…

Key facts: Whitehaven coal mine

Coal to be excavated: 61.4 million tonnes of coal in total and 2.93 million tonnes of coal per annum (at full capacity)

Coal to be sold: 55.6 million tonnes of coal in total and 2.78 million tonnes of coal per annum (at full capacity)…

Organisations working against the proposed West Cumbrian coal mine

There are a range of organisations fighting against this disastrous proposal, each with different tactics and strategy, but working together to stop the mine.

Johnson’s first comment on proposed Cumbrian coal mine

On the first day of the Conference of Parties Climate summit (COP26) in Glasgow Boris Johnson for the first time has said that he is not in favour of a new coal mine in the UK. Tommy Greene explains what happened in an article on Left Foot Forward.

Final day of public inquiry into proposed Cumbrian coking coal mine

Today (1st October) is the last day of the public inquiry into the proposed West Cumbria coal mine. The inspector will privately deliberate the evidence presented, write up a report and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State, who is now Michael Gove.

New Coal Action Network report ~ Coal in Steel: Problems and solutions

New report from Coal Action Network. Coal in Steel provides background information to campaigns against proposed new coking coal mines and considering how coal needs to be phased out of steel production.

Creative opposition to proposed Cumbrian coking coal mine on first day of public inquiry

From West Cumbria to London, opposition to the controversial proposal for an underground coking
coal mine, sited near Whitehaven, is widespread and growing. On 7th September, the day the
public inquiry investigating the proposal by West Cumbria Mining Ltd started, members of the public gather in two locations to demand a greener future, in which a new coal mine has no place.

West Cumbria Mining Ltd and EMR Capital – we reveal all.

Coal Action Network has commissioned research revealing massive debts of over £29million, Cayman Islands tax havens, corporate structures that undermine responsibility, and taxes that may not get paid.

11 groups commit to taking direct action to stop the West Cumbria coal mine if government approves it

Coal Action Network has joined eight other action groups in pledging to take direct action against the proposed Cumbrian coking coal mine, should the government reject all of the evidence at the public inquiry and approve the mine.

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