Residents furious over new ESB substation

Residents living in an East Cork village have reacted with anger to revelations that Eirgrid want to develop another substation in their locality as part of the €500m Grid Link project which will see a 500km chain of pylons built from the south to the east of the country.

The residents of Knockraha have already expressed their objections to the construction of the pylons, but a newly-formed residents group is calling for the 400kV substation to be built elsewhere as they already have an Eirgrid/ESB substation in the village, which is due to be reconfigured and extended.

“We are unique to other anti-pylon groups as we are facing two threats, not only more pylons but also this second substation which we want built elsewhere. Our fear is that the second substation would be nearer to the school; the existing substation is 1,500 metres away,” said Noelle Murphy of the Knockraha Area Community Association.