AS decision time looms for the controversial coal mine plan, the Mayor of Copeland will write to the communities secretary in support of the application.

In the closing moments of a fiery Copeland Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, Mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie said that a letter would be sent to Government by the authority, throwing its weight behind the West Cumbria coal mine.

West Cumbria Mining’s metallurgical coal mine planned for the former Marchon chemical site in Whitehaven, has been the subject of a contentious public inquiry this year.

So much opposition was levelled at the planning application that the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government called it in, launched an inquiry into the plans.

Mr Starkie told members at the meeting of full council: “I’m writing a letter to Michael Gove, the Secretary of State and hopefully all councillors of all parties will be prepared to be signatories of it, it’s in support of West Cumbria Mining.”

Following a recommendation from the chief planning inspectorate, Stephen Normington, the Secretary of State Michael Gove will make the final decision on whether or not to greenlight the plan.

It is understood that Mr Gove will announce the decision in January.

Mr Starkie said that he has decided to write on behalf of the council at a crucial time for the application.

He told members that all of their names would be included as the under-signed - unless they contacted him to have their name removed.

Labour councillor for Whitehaven South Mike Hawkins said: "I just think you shouldn't put people's names on letters. I think you should ask councillors to put their names on.

"There's people not here today and you're putting their names on the letter."

Mr Starkie said that the letter would be sent out to all members via email and they should urgently respond if they did not want to put their name to it.

Labour councillor for Distington, Lowca and Parton Dave Banks said: "As someone who has supported the scheme since day one, you can put my name on it."

Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change were two of the key players in the Woodhouse Colliery inquiry.

Paul Brown QC, solicitor for Friends of the Earth said in his closing statement to the inquiry that conditions imposed on the application would not mitigate its impact on the environment.

But supporters of the mine make the argument that metallurgical coal will be extracted, exclusively for the production of steel. They say that steel will be needed for clean energy solutions like nuclear reactors and that it is better for the environment to produce it in Britain as opposed to shipping it in from overseas.