Farmers vow to continue fight against power lines

FARMERS in Bantry have vowed to continue their opposition to ESB plans to erect overhead power lines to serve a wind farm.

Bantry Concerned Action Group, representing local people objecting to the power lines, claimed a High Court ruling the previous day was very disappointing.

Mr Justice Frank Clarke granted an injunction against three objectors, Tadhg Coughlan, Susan Kingston and John Kingston, preventing them from interfering with the work of the ESB. The defendants were awarded their costs.

ESB spokesman Kevin MacDermott said he hoped the landowners affected by the injunction would observe the law and allow the ESB to carry out its statutory obligations to connect the wind farm to the national grid in the cheapest way possible.

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) president Malcolm Thompson said the farmers were attempting to compel the ESB to lay planned cables to a privately-owned windmill farm underground, rather than running them overground because of health and safety concerns.

Sinn Féin agriculture spokesperson Martin Ferris said he fully supported the demand of the landowners.

“I believe that this is a reasonable request and one that ought to be facilitated in order to protect the health and safety of the residents and to allow the project to proceed,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Bantry group said it was at a loss to understand why Donegal-based Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan made representations to Cork County Council on behalf of the wind farm developer in conflict with the farmers.