Despite pressure from green groups, the UK Government has said it will not intervene in a county council’s decision to approve a deep coal mine – the first facility of its kind to gain planning approval in 30 years, reports EURACTIV’s media partner, edie.net.
Cumbria County Council approved plans put forward by West Cumbria Mining (WCM) late last year, but was told that the Government had the right to call in the decision under planning laws. In a statement on Wednesday (6 January), the local authority said it had received confirmation from Whitehall that this course of action would not be taken.