The Sperrins: Mining, Power & Community in Northern Ireland

#65.🎙️ |Public Inquiry - Review of Week Beginning 18th May 2026|

* Public Inquiry Review of the Week * Growing concerns over procedural fairness and democratic accountability * Retired engineer Douglas Hill challenges the Roads Abandonment process * Local communities defend vital rural infrastructure and public safety * DfI neutrality questioned as confidence in the process continues to erode * Timetable chaos, cancelled hearings and mounting pressure on campaigners * Reflections on environmental justice, public trust and community resistance * The latest from the Save Our Sperrins campaign and the Dalradian inquiry * New podcast episode available now https://www.dontmineus.com [https://www.dontmineus.com]  SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins [https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins] https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/   #SaveOurSperrins #PublicInquiry #EnvironmentalJustice #NorthernIreland #Dalradian #CommunityVoices #Democracy #PlanningProcess #Podcast #Sperrins

#64 🎙️|Public Inquiry Week Beginning 19th May 2026 | Day 4

In this episode, I unpack the latest developments at the Dalradian public inquiry, including delays, adjournments, and the withdrawal of the judicial review surrounding the landscape hearings. I also reflect on a powerful discussion with Indigenous climate activist Ariel Deranger and the striking parallels between Indigenous environmental struggles and what communities here in the Sperrins are experiencing today. Topics covered include: • Dalradian public inquiry updates • Judicial review withdrawn • Landscape hearings postponed • Roads inquiry continues • Indigenous climate justice • Rural communities and environmental activism • Planning systems and democracy • Save Our Sperrins campaign • Community rights and environmental protection • The human impact of industrial development This episode explores why communities are increasingly feeling unheard, and why protecting landscape, water, identity, and democracy matters more than ever. Links from this podcast  Https://www.thewovenproject.org [https://www.thewovenproject.org] eriel@thewovenproject.org [eriel@thewovenproject.org]  SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins [https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins] https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

#63 🎙️|Public Inquiry Week Beginning 19th May 2026 | Day 3

• Extraordinary scenes from the Roads Inquiry into the proposed abandonment of the U1244 road • Retired senior roads engineer Doug Hill challenges the integrity and compliance of the process • Concerns raised around road safety, visibility, drainage, heavy traffic and emergency access • Questions over democratic accountability, procedural fairness and public confidence • Discussion around the erosion of standards, compliance and duty of candour within public institutions • The growing influence of big business, lobbying and political pressure in Northern Ireland • Why Doug Hill’s intervention became the defining moment of the day • Plus: applications officially open for the completely fictional role of DfI / PAC whistleblower An example of some of Doug's accreditations relevant to the roads inquiry  Accrediated Lead Assessor with HIS (British Standards Institute) For BS 5750 series I SO 9001 & iSO 14001. Quality Management System & Environmental Management System. International Standard Organisation. As a consultant I mentored organisations implementing these standards. I also carried out external audits on companies for BSI. Actually I have carried out a number of audits for Roads Service headquarters in the one plus million West Link DBFO package 1 project. I was the DNSR. Department Nominee Site Representive. I carrying out many internal Audits for Roads Service A4 dialling 118 million project. I was a consultant to roads service and acted as Project Manger. We developed this Scheme and presented to the 2 week Roads Service Public Inquiry. We were hugely successful and the Independent Inspector except our proposal in in entirety and only made two minor recommendations. Roads Service Divisional Roads Manger Mr Pat Doherty described us as his dream team and he thanked me and complimented me frequently by word and by letter. Another relevant professional training was a 3 or 4 day residential Public Inquiry training course in Dublin which I completed with credits. SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrinsing [https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins] Sign up to the newsletter here  [https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/]   #Sperrins #PublicInquiry #RoadSafety #PlanningAppealsCommission #DFI #NorthernIreland #Democracy #Goldmine #Community #Infrastructure

#62 🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 19th May 2026| Day 2

* Senior roads engineers challenge the handling of the Dalradian road proposals * Questions raised over safety, baseline surveys and the use of Section 76 * Communities reduced to “receptors” in the language of the Inquiry * Witnesses speak openly about feeling dismissed and disrespected * Fresh criticism of DfI Roads and the constantly shifting process * Concerns over haul roads, school safety, traffic volumes and consultation failures * Campaigners accuse the PAC of facilitating strategy rather than scrutinising evidence * Another extraordinary day inside the Public Inquiry https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ [https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/]

#61🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 18th May 2026 | Day 1

Roads, Questions & Wearing People Down • Another long day inside the Dalradian Public Inquiry • Roads, traffic surveys and Article 11 discussions dominate proceedings • Concerns raised over outdated baseline traffic data from 2015 • Third parties forced to answer before hearing applicant responses • Growing frustration around fairness, process and “equality of arms” • Douglas Hill challenges DfI Roads evidence and lack of updated modelling • Local residents speak about safety, noise, HGVs and rural roads • Questions raised around enforcement, planning conditions and long-term accountability • Section 76 agreements discussed  but who carries the risk when the gold is gone? • Reflections from another exhausting day inside the inquiry room https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/