A GOLD mining firm behind plans to build a cyanide processing plant in the Sperrin Mountains has changed the location of a public exhibition after a community group declined to host them.
Dalradian Gold had planned to hold the public information exhibition at a community centre in the village of Rouskey in Co Tyrone on two dates later this month.
However, it has now emerged that Rouskey Community and Development Association told the Canadian owned firm last month that the venue was not available.
Dalradian intends to use the highly toxic chemical cyanide at a proposed plant in Greencastle to extract gold from ore mined locally.
The site of the proposed mine - which is being opposed by some residents and environmentalists - is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and close to a primary school and residential properties.
In a message posted on its Facebook site the community association said that it wished to “advise that there will be no Dalradian meetings in our building”.
Rouskey Community and Development Association declined to comment when contacted.
Dalradian is planning to carry out a public consultation in advance of making a planning application which is expected later this year.
In a letter posted on its Facebook page Dalradian said that the exhibition would now take place at a site operated by the company near Rouskey next month.
The firm's director of stakeholder engagement, Dr Anne Monaghan, said: “This is a larger venue than previously planned and will give you the opportunity to see some of our current operation as well as discuss our proposals ahead of out planning application submission later this year.”
She said Dalradian would continue to have "conversations" with the community during the consultation period, and beyond, and urged residents to attend the public information events in November to learn more about the project plans.
