THE company behind the proposed coal mine in West Cumbria has not appealed the High Court's decision to quash planning permission, it has been announced. 

Friends of the Earth has confirmed this morning (October, 14) that West Cumbria Mining has not filed any papers with the court, missing the deadline to appeal against the ruling which stopped plans to bring back the UK’s first coal mine in 30 years.

The High Court decision last month was a result of legal challenges from Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC), with the judge siding with Friends of the Earth on all counts.

SLACC was favoured in all but one of their challenges.

The Coal Authority also refused to grant coal mining licences for the development on September 26. 

Friends of the Earth energy campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said: “It’s little surprise that West Cumbria Mining has not appealed the judgment.

"The High Court found in our favour on four separate grounds, and each of these would have had to be overturned to change the outcome.

Read more: Cumbria coal mine plans quashed by High Court judge

“Last week’s decision by the Coal Authority to refuse coal mining licences for the proposed development, underlines the fact that this mine is effectively dead in the water.

“WCM must now accept the inevitable and walk away from this development. If they don’t, Angela Rayner should bang the final nail into the coffin of this destructive and unnecessary mine by refusing planning permission.

“The government must now develop an ambitious plan to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon future, with top priority given to areas like West Cumbria to ensure they get the jobs, hope and prosperity they so urgently need.

“With the closure of the UK’s final remaining coal-fired power station at the end of last month, coal is fast becoming part of our heritage, not of our future," he said. 

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, Angela Rayner, will now reconsider the original planning application by West Cumbria Mining unless the company withdraws it.