Oral hearing into controversial plan for overhead power line

An Bord Pleanála is to hold an oral hearing into contentious plans by Eirgrid to run a 110kv overhead power line across a 40km stretch of Co Cork later this month.

The planning authority is to consider whether to grant permission to the state-owned company for the new power line between Clashavoon and Dunmanway which is being strongly opposed by communities on the route of the proposed development.

Eirgrid said construction of the power line would also require the erection of 227 new structures — including 20 large steel pylons along the route.

Eirgrid said the new power line was necessary to improve quality and security of electricity supply to customers in the region.

It warned dependency on two existing transmission lines — Dunmanway-Macroom and Bandon-Raffeen — meant that any routine maintenance work on either line could result in large parts of South-West Cork, including Bandon, Bantry and Dunmanway losing electricity supply.

The company said there was also a significant amount of renewable energy generation connected or seeking to connect in South-West Cork which could not be accommodated by capacity levels on the existing transmission network.

It stressed that the route of the proposed line was designed to ensure that clusters of dwellings and towns were avoided.

Eirgrid said it is not possible to upgrade its existing infrastructure to solve its network problems as an alternative to building the new power line.

It ruled out putting the new power line underground as it estimates that it would double the cost of the project.

An Bord Pleanála has received submissions from 26 parties who will be entitled to make further oral representations at the public hearing.

They include prescribed bodies like Cork County Council, the HSE and the National Roads Authority, as well as individuals including some landowners along the route.

A submission was also received from a group called Communities Before Pylons formed by communities opposed to the new power line. They claim it is un-necessary as it is intended as a secondary back-up line for the existing network.

The oral hearing conducted by An Bord Pleanála will be held at the Castle Hotel in Macroom, Co Cork on Aug 27 and is scheduled to last up to five days. The case is due to be decided by Oct 8.