A decision on proposals to revive West Cumbria’s mining industry could be made as early as next month.

West Cumbria Mining wants to mine coal off the coast of St Bees and move it via an underground conveyor to a new processing and storage building on the old Marchon site at Kells.

Cumbria County Council planners will discuss the application when they meet on September 20.

More than 1,600 people have expressed an interest in working at the mine and the company’s training and recruitment manager is currently assessing them to match skills with roles.

However, people will not be invited for interview until planning permission has been granted.

The company has previously pledged that at least 80 per cent of the 500-plus positions will go to people living within a 20-mile radius of Whitehaven.

Work is continuing on offshore drilling, with two holes already completed and samples collected, and the third borehole is “progressing well”.

Once the mine is up and running, processed coal will be transported to a new rail sidings in the Pow Beck Valley in Whitehaven where it will be loaded onto trains.

A series of events has been held for the public to find out more about the plans and last month the first supplier open day was held.

The company’s communications manager, Helen Davies, said: “The supplier open day was very well attended, with around 300 businesses from the local area and further afield. WCM is keen to involve businesses of all sizes to get involved with the project.”

A supplier’s guide is available by contacting Colin Sharpe at colin.sharpe@westcumbria mining.com

The company hopes to begin construction next spring, with coal production expected by the end of 2019.