With the closing date for submissions to the Cork County Area Development Plan looming, the Clonmult/Lisgoold ‘No Pylons’ group are urging people concerned about a proliferation of wind farm development to make their views known by making an immediate submission.

In the draft plan, a large area of east Cork, taking in Ballymacoda, Ladysbridge, Castlemartyr, Balinacurra and north of Fermoy has been deemed suitable for wind farm development. The campaign group is concerned at so wide an area having such designation.

The group members believe that where wind farm development goes, EirGrid’s Gridlink project will follow and they are trying to raise public awareness ahed of the closing date on Wednesday next, February 26th.

Meanwhile this week, South Tipp Independent TD Mattie McGrath said that the belated acknowledgment by Eirgrid’s Chief Executive that it misjudged its public engagement strategy over the pylon issue is ‘a grovelling attempt to claw back much needed credibility’.  Deputy McGrath made his comments after Fintan Slye admitted that ruling out the underground option so early in the debate was a mistake that could have been avoided:

“If this is an attempt by Eirgrid to portray a more respectful stance toward our communities then I don’t think it is going to succeed.  Mr Slye and other senior figures in Eirgrid have consistently attempted to dismiss our concerns as uninformed and without foundation,” he said.