UK’s new coal mine sent ‘adverse international signal’, campaigners say
Environmental campaigners are challenging the approval of a coking coal mine in northwest England.
Nearly two weeks after Port Metro Vancouver held a press conference to highlight its commitment to public consultation, an anti-coal activist and a New Westminster councillor are expressing frustration at how long it’s taking to get answers from the port.
At a press conference on April 23, Port Metro planning staff announced they would hold two open houses on May 23 and 25 to get community feedback on a coal terminal expansion application from Surrey Fraser Docks. The port is responsible for approving or rejecting the project.
But the next day, the May dates were retracted. Kevin Washbrook of Voters Taking Action on Climate Change said members of the anti-coal group began leaving messages with Port Metro nearly a week ago, asking when and where the events would be held. The port has yet to respond.
“Either there’s no answer or it’s just a message, and the emails say we’ll reply within three to five days,” Washbrook told Business in Vancouver.
Jonathan Cote, a New Westminster councillor, has also been trying to contact the port, and is still waiting for information about when and where the open houses would be held.
Cote has heard from many New Westminster residents who have health concerns about coal dust, and would like Port Metro Vancouver to hold one of the sessions in New Westminster. He noted that the city’s high-density downtown is located right across from the proposed terminal.
“I am a bit concerned, with a month out and without dates set, and without a location set, it’s going to be hard for even the community to get the word out about this,” said Cote.
Port Metro will respond to everyone who has contacted them, but not until next week, said Anna Deeley, a spokesperson for the port. She said it was more efficient for the port to respond to everyone in one email.
“Fraser Surrey Docks is finalizing their submission to the port in advance of the public open houses, so there’s a few materials that they need to finalize,” Deeley said. “Until those are done, they can’t finalize the date of the open houses.”
BIV also questioned Deeley about how a spokesperson for the coal industry had come to have the name of its reporter who was listed to attend Port Metro’s April 23 press conference.
“I understand you’ll be attending Port Metro Vancouver’s technical briefing,” Alan Fryer, spokesman for the Coal Alliance, wrote in an email. “Should you require an interview, or any further background information on the coal industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.”
Deeley did not have an explanation as to why the media list had been shared with the Coal Alliance.
Cote said he was still hopeful that the port will follow through on their promise to hold meaningful public consultation.
“I’ve been involved with a lot of really good consultation processes and ones that have not been as well done, and it really makes a big difference,” said Cote.
“You can really tell when an organization really genuinely wants to consult with the people or is really just ticking a checkmark off their to-do list of things they have to do to get through a process.”
By Jen St. Denis
