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Historic Victory for Alternative to Pylons, Donegal - June 2001 In May, 2000 Donegal County Council granted planning permission to the Electricity Supply Board to erect 100 kilometres of 110KV pylons through West Donegal (See Map Below). The Alternative to Pylons (ATP) Group, Coiste Timpeallachta Ghaoth Dobhair and An Taisc made separate submissions to An Bord Pleanala to hold an Oral Hearing to voice their objections and these were held in December, 2000. On July 2nd, 2001 the Board made its decision known and firmly rejected the ESB's proposals on the following grounds perusant to the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 to 1999, permission is hereby refused for the reason set out in this Schedule: (Full Schedule Here)  The Background When the proposal was first mooted the Alternatives to Pylons Group carried out a review of the research available on the adverse effects of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) and carona ion emissions from overhead power lines. This research revealed some very worrying information. See the latest work of a number of eminent scientists, including Prof. Denis Henshaw of the University of Bristol and also The Irish Times 21/9/00. All these studies have be taken seriously and be given due consideration by the ESB, the Planning Authorities throughout Ireland and the Government. The issues raised included, the health implications for humans and livestock, the environmental and scenic impact on the landscape with added implications for tourism, the devaluation of land and limitations on land use in the immediate area where pylons and poles are erected. Local Independent TD Tom Gildea; Fine Gael TD Dinny McGinley; Pearse Doherty, Gerry Adams and TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Caoimhim O'Caolain, all of Sinn Féin, also pledged their support to the Campaign to put these lines underground.  The Proposed ESB Route of 110kv overhead Power Lines through West Donegal 2000 The fact that there were two Oral Hearings doubled the costs for the voluntary group as the issues of health, land devaluation and the loss of tourism revenue are the same in both the case of the sub-station and the overground lines yet we had to have experts available for both weeks. Ninety five per cent 95% of the submissions to the Planning Appeals Board did not support the development which would cut through 115 of West Donegal's townlands, 20% of the total, through a 1000 landowners property and near tens of thousands of homes. The ATP group is made up of a cross section of Donegal society, people who are entitled to a quality electricity supply but who demand that one of the prime assets of our County, the unspoilt scenic beauty, is not sacrificed in the name of progress! Links: Cobh Anti-Pylon County Cork UK Radiological Protection Board Bristol University - Department of Radiation Physics Revolt (Rural England Versus Overhead Line Transmission) S.O.U.L (Wake Up Wisconsin, USA) New Scientist - June 2005 - Large study links power lines to childhood cancer |
The Fight today 2006 The Alternatives to Pylons group in Donegal (ATP) are annoyed at the ESB's recent full page advertisements in the Donegal papers which again propose erecting 110kv pylons through south and west Donegal. The 8 routes marked look like spaghetti junction and, as no townlands are listed, consideration of their proposals is impossible. In their advertisements the ESB have not specified which of these routes they are seeking planning permission for or if they intend to apply for planning permission for all eight routes listed (See ESB Map). Nowhere have the ESB offered any alternatives to the overhead cables and steel pylons which were rejected by the planning board in 2001 so it would appear that the ESB have not taken into consideration the opinions of the many who objected then. A positive approach to environmental energy policy would promote reliable local generation via Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units and biomass rather than overhead cables and pylons in order to preserve the donegal landscape. Although it may be attractive from an engineering perspective, there is no need, even for the foreseeable longer term, to bring a 110 kV connection to west Donegal. The ESB’s proposals would grossly over-provide for the West of the County with a capacity of 126 MW to serve a demand of around 10 MW. Even when the factorys were full of workers in Gweedore the highest demand was for 16MW and not 126MW as is presently proposed. Surely this can only be to take power away from huge wind farm developments? Why, for instance, is much of the route passing through state owned forestry and mountainous areas if not to facilitate wind farms rather than augment Donegal’s electricity supply? The Danes, world leaders in wind generation with 20% of their electricity supply from windfarms, are now in the position of having to buy back electricity from Germany rather than selling it such is the inconsistency of wind power generation while the local Council on the Isle of Mull in Scotland have declared the island a wind farm free zone as they realise that such developments would ruin their tourism industry. Rural Donegal has not received any of the benefits of the Celtic Tiger so why therefore should we have the worst elements? If undergrounding is good enough for Dublin and for other Irish cities why should the Donegal countryside be any different? Unless the ESB begin to operate in an open and transparent manner and consider the real importance of our environment their plans will fall short once again. Email your objections to Donegal ESB  Lough Finn This issue is not unique to Donegal or Ireland, but one that has been under scrutiny around the world for many years. Research carried out in the U.S.A, New Zealand, the UK and other European countries, most notably Sweden and Denmark, all suggest that there may be an increased risk in cancer rates among people who live close to electricity power lines. This is particularly significant for children, where studies have reported that those living close to some types of power lines have higher than average rates of leukemia, brain cancer and cancers in general. Further studies also suggest increases in asthma, immune-related illness and psychological problems, particularly depression, among the population in general. urthermore, there is evidence to suggest that burying transmission lines can substantially reduce their magnetic fields because they are generally insulated with rubber or plastic, this in turn would reduce the health risks. The ESB have rejected the underground option because of the increased cost but what price is our health worth? If you would like posters to put on your property objecting to the overground scheme email info@dun-na-ngall.com. If you wish to help by making a donation to the Appeal fund you can send a cheque or postal order to: ATP GROUP, Account no. 82529441, Bank of Ireland, Dungloe, County Donegal, Ireland. - sligo & Roscommon www.safelines.ie & http://www.energy-matters-amp.com/Main/HomePage Meath group their website is www.pylonpressure.ie e |