People Before Profit Councillor Maeve O’Neill said;
“Gold mining and Dalradian are not welcome here. We have a duty as public representatives to ensure this is heard loud and clear. There are 38,000 objections already logged on the planning portal and we have a number of very active anti-mining groups locally.”
Dalradian’s proposed prospecting would take place in the Sperrins area of outstanding natural beauty, a crucial area for biodiversity supporting blanket bog and wetland heath habitats.
Commenting on the potential for environmental destruction Cllr O’Neill said;
“Peatlands are the largest terrestrial carbon store. They store twice as much carbon as all of the earth’s standing forests. Exploration Dalradian style will damage the environment, the water table, the rivers, the air and ultimately the health of the population living in these areas.”
“There is no effective, independent or objective regulation of mineral exploration. We have seen numerous examples of failure by those charged with protecting the environment in relation to reported breaches by Dalradian. The enforcement process is not fit for purpose and Dalradian’s self-monitoring is ineffective and meaningless.”
Concluding Cllr O’Neill noted that;
‘Council has a corporate position against gold mining, we must ensure we submit a strong objection to Dalradian’s prospecting licences – to protect the environment and the health and well-being of the Sperrins communities and the well-being of future generations.”
