Defiant landowners block ESB in wind farm pylon row

A TENSE stand-off began yesterday between landowners and the ESB over plans to erect power lines for a privately-owned wind farm.

The situation escalated as the Government announced plans to allow wind farms in scenic areas nationwide.

As Environment Minister Dick Roche unveiled new planning guidelines, which include the fast-tracking of developments with more than 50 turbines, 40 landowners in Bantry in West Cork blocked access to lands to ESB trucks.