Public inquiry begins into plans for new coalmine in Cumbria

Campaigners say support for building UK's first deep coalmine in 30 years is diminishing

There is dwindling support for proposals to build the UK's first deep coalmine in 30 years in Cumbria, say campaigners, as a public inquiry into the mining plans gets under way.

The plans attracted opposition earlier this year and were cited as an example of a lack of joined-up thinking from a UK government that was simultaneously making big promises on the environment. They were seen as particularly problematic in the run-up to the crucial Cop26 climate change summit due to be hosted in Glasgow this November. Chris Stark, the chief executive of the Climate Change Committee, pointed out that the mine would increase global emissions and make it harder to achieve the UK carbon budgets".