With the deadline for the third phase of consultation on the Grid Link Project now extended by EirGrid until Tuesday, January 7th, people have additional time to have their say on the controversial plan. EirGrid is encouraging members of the public to use the opportunity to provide feedback on the route corridor options. That feedback, they say, can
influence the next stage of the project which is the identification of a ‘least constrained’ corridor.

The information centre for Cork established by EirGrid is at Unit 5 of the Market Green Shopping Centre in Midleton. It’s open every Monday from noon until 6pm. Maps of the route corridor options can be viewed there.

South Tipperary Minister Tom Hayes this week added his voice to those calling for the pylons to go underground. Speaking to The Avondhu at a function in Ballyboy House in Clogheen, he said every avenue should be explored so that the pylons do not intrude on the environment.

He added that it is the view of himself and a lot of people that the pylons will go underground. He welcomed the extension of the deadline, saying people felt very rushed about getting their submissions in and this will give them more time to make their opinions known.

The Minister said he’d had some very successful meetings in Tipperary, and that, from a cost point of view, Tipperary isn’t the place for the pylons. “It would be an eyesore,” he pointed out.

Minister Hayes stressed that the issue needs to be discussed in a calm manner. Frightening people isn’t the way forward. He added that it is a once-off infrastructural development and the decisions on where to place the pylons should not be rushed.

The matter was also discussed this week at the monthly meeting of Lismore Town Council. Cllr Bernard Leddy commended those members and Waterford County Council officials who worked on their submission to EirGrid, saying it was well constructed. Chairman Jan Rotte said Minister Pat Rabbitte appeared at the Labour Party convention at the weekend not to be as rigid in his opposition to undergrounding the line. He’d promised to review the matter. The chairman too welcomed the extension for submissions.

Cllr Orla Russell said she’d raised it with Minister Leo Varadkar when she met him recently and that he’d taken note of local feeling relayed by her. “I think it’s starting to hit home to Government that this is a big issue,” she said.