Environmentally backwards coal mine decision unacceptable - MP

Commenting on the news that Britain's first new deep coal mine in 30 years has been given the go-ahead in Cumbria, local MP Tim Farron said:

"I am extremely disappointed and surprised by this decision.

"Cumbria has so many renewable resources to provide energy - water, wind and solar - and we should most definitely not be taking the backwards step of opening a new coal mine.

"I am very clear that Fossil fuels should stay in the ground and that we should invest fully in zero carbon energy instead and lower carbon methods of producing steel.

"I understand the economic challenges on the west coast that has put pressure on the county council to make this decision, but this does not make such an environmentally backward decision acceptable."