MULTI-MILLION-pound plans for a new state-of-the-art Cumbrian coalmine will be a massive employment boost for the region, resulting in major rail link improvements for Copeland.

That is the view of Millom Cllr Ged McGrath, who along with his fellow Conservative Councillors have welcomed the news that Cumbria County Council hasunanimously given the go-ahead to West Cumbria Mining, who want to extract coking coal along the coastline between Whitehaven and St Bees and process the fossil fuel at a nearby plant.

Copeland Conservative MP Trudy Harrison and International trade secretary Liam Fox have both given their backing to the project, saying the massive £165m investment in the new mine will result in major economic growth across the constituency.

Their words have been echoed by Cllr McGrath, who is also the Conservative candidate for Copeland in May’s mayoral elections.

He said: “I welcome the council’s planning department’s decision to back west Cumbria Mining. This will create more jobs in Copeland for local people, so that our local economy will benefit

“Hopefully the proposals should also be a catalyst now for further improvements to our railways and if elected as mayor in May I will look forward to working with Trudy and the government to ensure this happens, so that we will all benefit.”