CAMPAIGNERS opposed to a new coal mine in Whitehaven gathered to call for green jobs in Cumbria, as a High Court hearing against the mine gets underway.

Legal challenges by environmental groups to the government’s decision to approve the mine are being heard over a three-day hearing in London between July 16-18.

Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC) argue that the decision approved under the last government in 2022 by Michael Gove, was ‘unlawful’.

On Thursday, the rebranded Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, now run by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, confirmed it was dropping its defence of the Whitehaven coal mine.

Activists from West Cumbria Friends of the Earth, XR North Lakes, South Lakes Action on Climate Change and Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group came together in Whitehaven on Monday and Tuesday to call for investment in green jobs.

On the eve of the hearing, (Monday, July 15), a rally took place in Whitehaven Market Place, where locals including a councillor, a teacher, college students, and trade unionists, spoke against the mine and in favour of a vision for green jobs.

Among the speakers on Monday was Joseph Ghayouba, who represents Bransty on Cumberland Council.

(Image: North West Friends of the Earth)

He told The Whitehaven News: “I spoke at the event to call for the government to invest in green jobs in communities like ours as it very likely the mine is not going to go ahead.

“We have been promised the world by the last government for 14 years. We have been promised SMRs, Fusion, large newbuild reactors, and a clean energy park by the last local MP.

“I will be doing all I can to make sure those promised jobs and other green industries come here  under the new government.

“We've been overlooked for investment for long enough now, We deserve better. Green jobs such as those in nuclear decommission employ thousands of people, they're well paid, secure and unionized. They have kept the local economy going through hard times.

“I share the local frustrations at the false promises and the false dawns.”

Ruth Balogh from West Cumbria and North Lakes Friends of the Earth said: “We have come together to recognise that while coal is our heritage, climate jobs are our future.

“We’re calling on the new Labour government to ensure that West Cumbria, and areas like ours, are at the forefront of building a climate friendly future so we get the investment, training and new jobs that will give unemployed people the chance to work.”

 Whitehaven resident, Yve Hansen, addressed the rally on the eve of the hearing, saying:

“I'm a local resident, born on Kells, brought up on Woodhouse, in the choking pollution of Marchon.

 “There are so many aspects that are so very wrong with the idea of a coal mine at this time of climate crisis. Whitehaven really does deserve better. We should not accept harmful industries just for the jobs. We must learn from the past so that we can make a better future, for us and generations to come.

“We are proud of our hardworking heritage, and our reputation for keeping on going in the face of adversity. We’ve had enough disasters, diseases and early deaths to deal with. Let's make sure our future industries and investments work for us, our children and our environment.

 “We have the chance to make the right decisions to ensure a better, renewable, cost effective, green and healthy future. There are huge opportunities for growth and employment from the green revolution and Whitehaven deserves that investment.”

West Cumbria Mining, the company behind the mine, confirmed on Friday that it will defend the legal challenges. The company previously said  it remains ‘wholly focussed’ on delivering the ‘significant world class scheme in full’.