Council call on gold-mining company to attend meeting over river ‘poisoning’ fears
By Ursula Duddy
A gold-mining company proposing digging up areas in County Derry have been asked to attend a council meeting after members expressed concerns about the work ‘poisoning’ rivers.
Dalradian Gold Limited has applied for mineral prospecting rights in respect of lands in Derry and Tyrone.
The areas in County Derry they hope to explore are in Dungiven, Park, Feeny and Draperstown while the areas in County Tyrone are Glenelly, Dunnamanagh, Owenkilloo and Gortin.
Councillors of Derry City and Strabane District Council were informed at yesterday’s Environment and Regeneration Committee that a consultation has been received from the Department for the Economy (DFE) in relation to the application from Dalradian Gold Limited.
The consultation asked that Derry City and Strabane District Council display the map showing the area over which the application has been made in our offices and to ask for any comments made by council to be forwarded to DFE by August 11.
It was suggested that members ‘note the content of this paper and request from DFE alongside the draft letter for consideration and discussion’.
Independent councillor, Paul Gallagher, expressed concerns over the effect that the mining would have on the surrounding areas, particularly the rivers.
Cllr Gallagher claimed that the mining would discharge ‘mercury, arsenic and copper’ and would lead to the ‘poisoning of our rivers’ and said that some of these rivers provide water for reservoirs.
He added: “We have no regard for the strength of the stuff they will be putting into our rivers.”
He also said that the prospecting would be happening in a number of areas of outstanding beauty and said that the areas would ‘suffer badly’ from ‘poisonous’ by-products of the digging.
Sinn Féin Councillor Dan Kelly also said it was ‘not appropriate’ to make a recommendation on a decision on the matter before consultation as this could be seen to ‘pre-empt the planning application and be prejudicial’.
Alderman David Ramsey of the DUP said that he would ‘like to hear more’ about exactly what is being proposed by Dalradian Gold Limited, adding: “I know we talk of inward investment but we have to protect our community as well.”
Alderman Ramsey proposed a motion that Dalradian Gold Limited come to address council and ‘allay fears’ about their proposed operations.
Councillor Martin O’Reilly, SDLP, said that council had already supported a call for a public enquiry onto what the gold-mining would entail. He suggested that the company should ‘make the case to the enquiry’ rather than council.
Alderman Ramsey responded: “It is quite clear that we are ignorant to this whole process and the stories we are getting about poisoning are scary.”
There was a unanimous decision to have representatives from Dalradian Gold Limited compile a report and make a presentation to council.