Angry landowners meet following Eirgrid decision

The North-East Pylon Pressure campaign (NEPP) is hosting a general meeting tonight (Wednesday) in Kells to update the public on its campaign following the selection of the preferred route for its power transmission lines project by EirGrid last week. The meeting will take place at 8.30pm in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells. On Monday night, a meeting of landowners was held in Kells to advise them on how to deal with approaches from EirGrid or their agents. NEPP says landowners in the north-east are grievously concerned about recent attempts by agents of EirGrid to visit their properties unannounced and without permission. The landowners" concern follows a letter from EirGrid to individual landowners on 8th April stating that agents would be visiting them to discuss placing pylons and overhead electricity lines across their property. A spokesman for NEPP said: 'Concern about strangers visiting properties in rural areas without prior notice or permission is understandably acute among elderly people living alone. 'We"ve written to EirGrid telling them to stop doing this and that landowners should be visited only if they get a written request for an appointment and agree to a meeting in writing. What EirGrid is doing now is just intimidation and harassment of innocent people. Furthermore, it has no basis whatsoever in law.' NEPP has also written to each Garda superintendent in the region informing them of their request to EirGrid, putting them on notice in relation to the unannounced visits and requesting their cooperation. In guidelines issued to landowners, NEPP advises them that if an EirGrid agent persists in trying to enter property without permission, they should notify the local Garda station. North Meath councillor Eugene Cassidy has warned that 'money won"t buy' the landowners along the 400kV power cables route, and that the landowners along the other routes are to continue the opposition to the pylons. A meeting in Kilskyre last week re-affirmed this from that locality"s point of view. Cllr Cassidy said that the proposed route was only an indicative one, and that the route corridor could be adjusted if the environmental impact statement found that this was necessary, or if other unforeseen obstacles arose. He said that while the route corridor is one kilometre wide, the local committee was told by EirGrid that if the power company needed to go outside it, it would. Tomas Mahony, senior project engineer with EirGrid, said: 'EirGrid has written to landowners letting them know we would like to meet. All proposed meetings with landowners are being held on a purely voluntary basis, as part of the on-going consultation process. 'Our offices in Meath and Monaghan have received many calls from landowners seeking meetings. Our agents are prioritising appointments with these landowners and are meeting with them as we speak. 'These meetings are important as they allow landowners to talk to us about the proposals and discuss any concerns they may have.' Mr Mahony added: 'EirGrid"s primary relationship and responsibility is to local landowners and we will be working in co-operation with them to ensure this vital infrastructure is delivered.'