Landowners urged to lock their gates by Cavan's first citizen

Landowners are being urged to lock gates and barricade their land by a local councillor as work begins on the early stages of the construction of the North-South Interconnector. The monthly meeting of Cavan County Council was told by Cathaoirleach Clifford Kelly that Eirgrid and ESB Networks had begun to access land as part of work on the project.

“I wish to notify all farmers in Cavan that there’s been a move in Monaghan to get onto land,” he informed members at last Monday afternoon’s meeting.

The construction of the 138km overhead electricity line will stretch from Meath to Tyrone and, if progressed, will involve the construction of 409 pylons, some up to 51 metres high, to carry the 400 Kilovolt cables.

A minimum distance of 13 metres to homes must be allowed. Cllr Kelly said this week things are “moving into a very serious situation” and claimed the bodies have no permission to access land planned for the project.

The Cathaoirleach urged landowners to take action to prevent access, including placing barricades in gateways or gaps.

The North East Pylon Pressure Campaign (NEPPC) has also issued a statement claiming Eirgrid/ESB and their agents have this week been “caught intruding” onto landowners’ properties in County Monaghan.

A spokesperson contends: “No request for access was ever made, no notice was ever given. They just proceeded to enter the lands, without any permission and were only spotted by chance.”

In the lengthy statement, the group goes on to claim “financial incentives” were offered to one landowner by a board member of Eirgrid.

“This represents a major escalation in the road to confrontation with landowners and local communities that Eirgrid and its appointed agents seem hell-bent on taking,” claims the NEPPC.

A statement issued to The Anglo-Celt on behalf of ESB Networks confirms that contractors working on its behalf have been accessing lands.

“ESB Networks is currently undertaking minor works in relation to the North-South Interconnector project.

"The works include walkover surveys and drilling of boreholes and are being undertaken by contractors working on ESB Networks’ behalf and with the prior consent of landowners (obtained by Eirgrid).”

Campaigners have rejected claims that planning permission allowing for access to the land has been given to Eirgrid or its agents.

However, in its statement ESB Networks says permission was obtained following the “submission of planning compliance notices to each local authority (Monaghan, Meath and Cavan)”.

It says the ongoing works “will inform the environmental, traffic management and waste management plans as set out in planning permissions associated with the project”.

Planning permission for the contentious project has been granted on both sides of the border but strong opposition remains.

Campaigners have long called for the project to be placed underground but Eirgrid continues to maintain this is not possible due to the technological and financial challenges it would pose.