A decision on whether to approve plans for a controversial coal mine in west Cumbria has been delayed for a third time.

Michael Gove was due to make a decision on whether or not to grant planning permission for the mine off the coast of Whitehaven by November 10, after being re-appointed levelling up minister.

But the Government is said to need more time to consider the case and the decision is now due to be made on or before December 8.

The deadline has been pushed back several times from early July to mid-August. The Planning Inspectorate's report has been with the government since April.

Mike Starkie, mayor of Copeland, said: “I find the delays extremely frustrating. I believe the date of July 7 that they gave us initially was stretching it, given they got the planning inspector’s report in April. It should have been approved then.

“I remain very confident that the mine will be approved as I’ve always done. If the planning inspector had recommended refusal, then surely the applicant and investors would be informed of that immediately.

“For it to drag on this long, I’m almost as certain as I can be that the planning inspector, like the planning panel before him, has recommended approval.

“On that basis, it brings an end to the argument and we should just get on with it.”

Environmental group Friends of the Earth said it was a “shame” the Government did not “seize” an opportunity to reject the plans at a time that would have coincided with the Cop27 conference in Egypt starting next week.

Friends of the Earth energy campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said: “The run up to next week’s climate summit was an ideal opportunity for the Government to rebuild its battered green credentials by rejecting this damaging and unnecessary coal mine. It’s a shame they didn’t seize it.

“Secretaries of State may come and go but the case against this mine is as strong as ever. It will increase emissions, while the market for its coal is rapidly diminishing with steel plants moving to greener production methods.

“Reintroducing the fracking ban was a good first step, but if Rishi Sunak is to really keep his pledge to make climate change a priority his Government must leave coal in the ground. Instead they should boost renewables and home insulation to create the new jobs that areas like Whitehaven need.”

If approved, the coal mine would be the first to open in the UK in 30 years, with the firm behind the project claiming it would create around 500 jobs.

READ MORE: Michael Gove to decide on West Cumbria mine plans