GRG say gold-mine incompatible with local area

A residents group opposed to Canadian firm Dalradian's plans to develop a gold mine say the firm's plans are incompatible with the area.

The Gortin Rouskey Greencastle Residents Group (GRG) say plans put forward by a gold exploration company "will never marry" with the local landscape.

GRG were borne out of concern from local residents living near the site of the proposed mine and processing plant in the Sperrins.

They rose to prominence after a series of consultation meetings between locals and Dalradian earlier this year.

GRG oppose the plan to construct an industrial-style complex in the heart of their area - saying its nature is incompatible with the area's status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"It's an industrial process in a rural beautiful location in an area of outstanding natural beauty - the two do not marry, never have married and never will marry," Bernie Fox from the residents group told Q radio news.

Furthermore, she says residents have concerns over the potential environmental impact the mine and processing plant will have on the local community.

Referencing "other areas in the world" that have been impacted negatively by mining, Mrs. Fox went on to say that people in the area opposed to the notion of mining were fearful that something might go wrong.

"We are reluctant to pinpoint to other areas in the world where disasters have taken place - and usually as a result of human error - which cannot be mitigated against," she said.

"We don't want to be part of a social experiment with that level of high risk and that's something that does raise the level of fear and anger within our community that [Dalradian] would even think that we would consider this project, given the level of risk that it brings," she went on.

Instead, GRG would like greater time and effort to be invested in developing the area's tourism potential - saying it would be much more sustainable.

"Our group's not anti-development, we're not anti-jobs - but we do believe that there is huge tourism potential [in the Sperrins]. And if the money, that has been invested in [Dalradian] by the government to date, was invested in tourism [in our area], then we believe it would create sustainable, long-term employment to the benefit of our community," Bernie Fox told Q radio news.

GRG say they intend to oppose Dalradian's plans every step of the way - and look forward to the two consultation events scheduled for later this month.

Directly rebutting Patrick Anderson (CEO of Dalradian Gold) and his claim of being open about engaging local residents over the project, Mrs. Fox questioned that assertion.

"You would have to question if Mr. Anderson was being brought up to speed with what actually is happening and has happened on the ground," she said.

"I believe that if he was completely 'au fait' with what the reality is then he wouldn't be in a position to say that. I can speak for people who live directly around where this development is being planned - and I can tell you that Dalradian have not engaged in the way in which they should have done, given what the sheer scale and size and risk associated with the plans that they currently have in place," she added.

She also questioned Dalradian's claims of running an "open door policy" on the issue of addressing concerns and questions over the impact the mine and attached processing plant would have on the local area.

"That policy may well exist but a lot of the questions from residents and others, put to them to date, remain unanswered - and still haven't been answered to the level that we believe they should be," she said.

"That for us is creating a serious concern within our local community. And to a large degree, many people have now come to the conclusion that there's no point in asking any further questions because the others remain unanswered," she added.