Metal mining company plans full public meeting on Dumfries and Galloway plans

A metal mining company has vowed to hold a full public meeting next month after a presentation on Tuesday night.

JDH Exploration Ltd, part of Australia-based giant Walkabout Resources – made the pledge amid a deluge of complaints about poor consultation before the event and constant technical issues during it.

The audience was split between a side room in Newton Stewart’s McMillan Hall and Zoom, with around 70 of the 85 attendees choosing the online portal.

JDH community liaison officer Nigel Bradley outlined surveys so far in three 250-square kilometre blocks around Newton Stewart, Dalry and Gatehouse.

He said: “There have been comments and criticism that we have not been engaging as widely as we should have.

“That’s the reason we are holding the meeting – we have made mistakes and it’s something we intend to reflect on. There is no intention to be secretive.

“We have to go through an engagement process with Dumfries and Galloway Council, community councils and key stakeholders.

Mr Bradley said further drilling would only take place if initial results were encouraging – with any mining operations were a long way off.

He added: “The chances of success are pretty low. Only one in 1,000 mineral exploration projects have any success.”