The company behind controversial survey work to gauge the potential for metal mining in Kirkcudbrightshire has organised a full public meeting on the issue.
JDH Exploration Ltd set up the session – to be held in Newton Stewart on February 16 – following an initial public forum last month.
That hybrid online-in person event prompted a deluge of complaints about poor consultation – a claim the company accepted was justified.
JDH – which is wholly owned by Australia-based mining giant Walkabout Resources – will host the meeting at 7pm in the McMillan Hall, the town’s largest venue.
A key aim, it says, will be to establish a “transparent” community engagement forum to address concerns and receive updates on survey results.
Community liaison officer Nigel Bradley said: “JDH are in the very early stages of exploration and as such, do not have a detailed understanding yet of what any potential mine will look like should exploration results warrant consideration for building a mine.
“Our geologists can explain how mineral extraction has been, or is being, done in other locations to give an idea of what might occur in the future.
“However, anything more specific than this would be speculative and is very much reliant on the results of exploration.
“The meeting in January highlighted a number of wide ranging issues and concerns and as a result of this, plans to establish a multi-stakeholder community engagement forum (CEF) have been accelerated and will take place at this meeting.
“Within this transparent and accountable forum, all interested parties will gain a more detailed understanding of potential risks and stakeholder concerns in addition to being kept up to date with exploration progress, results and future intentions.
“The CEF is also intended as a grievance management mechanism.”
JDH holds three mineral exploration licences covering a total area of 750 square kilometres centred on Blackcraig between Creetown and Newton Stewart, the mountains west of Dalry and the Pibble Hill area behind Gatehouse.
All three areas are prospective for gold, silver, lead, zinc and nickel, the company said.
In a message to prospective attendees, Mr Bradley said: “I do hope that you, or an empowered representative, can attend this meeting and establishment of a CEF.
“If you are unable to attend on this occasion, I will ensure that minutes and records of decisions are copied to you, including the details of the next agreed meeting.
“I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible on February 16.”
Meanwhile, a new organisation is being set up to represent community views on the mining plan.
The Galloway Mining Action Group will be led by Gatehouse hill farmer Chris Bond whose 3,000-acre hill farm borders one of the prospecting areas.
He said: “By this weekend we will have set up a legally constituted mining group.
“We want to hold the company to account in a friendly but tough manner.”
