"Try digging bloody holes and getting something out..." I wonder what Citytrader thinks pit-sampling to a grid entails, if not precisely that?
Proper exploration by taking logged samples on a grid is an integral part of confirming that the prospect is viable for mining. Without such confirmation a mining permit won't be issued. Check right back to the acquisition UKREG, where it is made very clear what the start-up process will entail.
Everything is running several months late, but there is no reason to believe that the programme will not proceed more or less as planned from here on in, barring the usual delays which always occur when least expected.