THE
HISTORY OF THE EVENTS RELATING TO THE
PROPOSED
AGHADA-RAFFEEN POWERLINE
MAY/JUNE 1994
An
ESB engineer called to property owners and informed them of the ESB's intention
to build the proposed 220,000 Volt line. Most importantly he stated the chosen
route and the exact location of the pylons.
The fact that the later Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) chose
this same route from a study of four possible routes shows clearly that the
EIS was not independent but rather was biased from the outset.
Individuals
responded, objecting strenuously, primarily due to the existing
high density of powerlines in the area.
Word
leaked that the ESB intended to apply for planning permission.
Aghada Community Council called a meeting to discuss the ESB's
plans. The ESB management were invited
but in spite of agreeing to attend they did not turn up. A week later the ESB rushed ahead with a planning
application despite promises that the plans would first be discussed with
the people and communities affected. (planning
application ref. no. S96/2333)
Due
to the arrogant and dismissive attitude of the ESB and the obvious availability
of a much shorter underharbour option which had not been addressed by the
ESB, the Cork Harbour Anti Pylon Community Group - CHAPCG- was formed.
JULY1996
The
ESB held an information 'Road Show' to tell people what they planned; - No
discussions were allowed on anything but what the ESB planned to do.
CHAPCG
organised meetings, encouraged and managed objections, lobbied councillors
and TD's, publicised the campaign and hired Mr. John Royds as a consultant.
A
key meeting was held with all East Cork councillors and farmers representatives. All the councillors gave their full support
to the campaign and endorsed the fact that the proposed 23 kilometre overland
line should be replaced by a much shorter 4 kilometre underharbour cable.
The
Cork IFA farmers group and the CHAPCG always adopted a professional pro-development
stance by the manner in which we organised and demonstrated and by recommending
the following;
a. Shorter underharbour route as this would not effect
tourism, residential, amenity, farming or other future developments.
b. Gas fired generating station in Ringaskiddy
and
c. Doubling up existing 110 KVA line.
TD;s,
MEP's, The Taoiseach (Mr. John Bruton) and Ministers were lobbied continuously. The County Manager (Mr. Noel Dillon-since retired)
and the Planning Officer (Mr. Brendan Kelliher) were met on a number of occasions
and given our arguments and research.
County
Council meetings were both attended and picketed throughout the Autumn of
1996. The planning decision was postponed several
times as a result. In October 1996
the County Manager asked the ESB to provide a report giving details and costings
for an underharbour cable.
A
protest rally was held outside the Aghada Power Station in December 1996. The ESB commissioned, Pirelli report on an underharbour electricity
cable was sent to the County Council. Pirelli costed the underharbour cable
at approx. £20m and the ESB unfairly added a further £8m - which they have
always refused to explain.
Note
1. The report was heavily changed by the ESB before presentation
including material erased and written over and additional pages inserted.
Note
2. The cost according to the ESB of the overland
line was £9m. This cost did not however
include compensation to farmers, developers and other property holders.
Such compensation would be significant as the overland line would sterilise
a total of 1000 acres.
MID
DECEMBER 1996
Representatives
of the Anti Pylon group sought and got a meeting with Mr. Noel Dillon, the
County Manager. He told us that he
had asked the ESB to submit a planning application for the underharbour cable
but that they had bluntly refused.
The
County Manager and a number of councillors travelled to Dublin to meet Minister
Alan Dukes and ask him for EU funding towards the cost of the underharbour
cable. He refused.
More
intensive lobbying continued.
FEBRUARY
10th 1997
Closed
meeting of Cork County Council; - the vast majority of councillors opposed
the ESB's plans for overland pylons given the ideal opportunity to meet the
electricity demand on the Western side of the Harbour, through a short underharbour
cable.
FEBRUARY
24th 1997
Major
protest by farmers, the CHAPCG and others to County Hall and Council meeting.
In
the late afternoon of the same day the County Manager granted planning permission
to the ESB. He said that the basis for his decision was
the much greater cost of the underharbour cable.
CHAPCG
had a meeting with Mr Noel Dillion. He
said that:-
1. The threat of Court action by the ESB regarding
the £20m difference between the overland and underharbour options.
2. The ESB's threat that job opportunities would
be lost unless permission for the overland pylons was given.
were
his reasons for granting the planning permission.
He said that he favoured the submarine cable and would submit a full
and detailed statement to An Bord Pleanala, who unlike the Council could not
be taken to court for refusing the planning.
Note;- Mr Dillon never submitted this report to An Bord Pleanala.
From
February 24th 1997 we had one month to send in our objections to An Bord Pleanala. A total of 9 objections were submitted, Those of CHAPCG and the farmer's group were
by far the most detailed.
JULY
1997
The
Cork IFA farmers took a High Court case to force An Bord Pleanala to have
a public oral hearing. Important Notes;- The Bord Pleanala senior council stated in open court that a, the
costs of the overland and underharbour options would not be a factor
in the Bord Pleanala deliberations and b, an oral hearing could be allowed. However the ESB's senior counsal said that
the
Bord
could not give an oral hearing on this planning as they had already told the
ESB it was not needed!!
Bord
Pleanala granted planning permission to the ESB.
In spite of assurances given in the high court the Bord Pleanala inspector
put special emphasis on the cost differance between the underharbour and the
overland options. His decision was primarily based on a cost difference which
in reality did not exist.
Remember
- the Pirelli report was doctored by the ESB who added £8-9m to the underharbour
cable option and the property compensation on the overland line was ignored. The Bord Pleanala decision was backward, incompetent
and disgraceful.
All
the groups against the overland line fought on with renewed commitment and
determination.
Protests
including a cavalcade of tractors and cars to Cork City and the ESB headquarters
in Wilton ,were held.
CARA
- The Cork Anti Pylon Representative Association was formed as an umbrella
group to intensify the campaign to have the line placed under Cork Harbour. Mr. Willie Cunningham was appointed Chairman.
CARA
met the Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke. We were supported at
the meeting by councillors, TD's, the Chamber's of Commerce and others.
Note;-
Mary O'Rourke singularly stands out for having done nothing either at that
time or at any time since.
Note
2;- From the outset of this campaign we have had the full support of every
business organisation, professional and voluntary body in the Greater Cork
area as well as the entire Cork Community.
We have also had the support of TD's, councillors, senators and MEP's.
During
this period RTE Prime Time did a programme on the controversy.
DECEMBER
1997
Cork
County councillors voted unanimously in support of our camgaign.
CARA
lobbied for and finally met the Chief Executive and senior managers of the
ESB in Wilton ,Cork.
JANUARY
1998
CARA
with the support of local TD's got the ESB in front of the Dail Public Accounts
,Committee.
CARA
met the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, in Cork.
The
ESB served legal notices on each property holder on the overland route of
their intention to enter lands and begin construction
On
February 24th CARA organised a major tractor, car and van cavalcade to Wilton
and returned the legal notices which were accepted by the ESB manager in Wilton,
Cork.
ECO
activists arrived in Cork to support the Campaign.
Cork
County Council employed Mr. Jim Coleshill of Dispute Resolutions to intervene
between the ESB and CARA.
MAY
1998
The
ESB wrote to each property holder informing us of their plans and that we
could contact their solicitors.
Discussions
were held with Mr. Coleshill of Dispute Resolutions Ltd. who suggested that
international consultants with the relevant expertise
in overland and underwater power transmission be employed to resolve
the matter. He strongly recommended Ewbank Preece O'Heocha, as they had the
global scale and the calibre and spread of expertise required . However the
ESB would not agree to this group. Finally
Vattenfal, a Swedish Company were appointed.
However the ESB stated that they would not be bound by their findings.
CARA
made submissions, lasting a full day to the Vattenfal consultants and Mr.
Coleshill. Our presentations included experts from Ireland
and overseas who travelled to present their reports. We conclusively proved that the underharbour
option was more cost effective than the overland line. We also proved that it was technically feasible,
far better regarding health and the environment and a proper modern solution
to the energy transmission needs of Cork Harbour.
Furthermore
we proved conclusively that Ringaskiddy could and should have a modern Combined
Heat and Power electricity Generating Station.
Our
presentation was so conclusive that Mr. Coleshill tried at the end of the
day to change the goal posts on the purpose and outcome of his mediation.
The
Vattenfal report, later sent to Cork County Council was so unprofessional
that even the ESB have since ignored it entirely.
FEBRUARY
1999
ESB
endeavour to begin work on the pylons but are prevented by the Eco activists
and members of CARA.
MARCH
22nd 1999
Cork
County Council members vote 31 to 4 in favour of a motion by councillor John
Mulvihill to rescind the planning permission, given two years earlier to the
ESB. Councillor Mulvihill and the Council used a
section of the 1963 act which enables the Council to overturn an earlier planning
permission if there has been a significant change of circumstances.
These were ;-
a. The health risks from heavy duty powerlines
was now proven by Professor Henshaw of Bristol University and his team of
researchers.
b. The increased property valuations over the two
previous years now made the underharbour option cheaper.
c. The environmental and visual damage of 50 metre
high pylons and wires was now regarded as seriously detrimental to the proper
future development of the Harbour area.
d. The underharbour option was now proven to be
economically viable, environmentally sound and technically feasible.
APRIL
1999
The
ESB lodged an objection with Bord Pleanala against the rescinding of planning
by Cork County Council. Later the ESB also stated their intention to
take Cork County Council to the High Court on the same matter.
EARLY SUMMER 1999
Co-ordinated
by our solicitor Mr. Charles Daly we prepared and forwarded a robust defence
of our position and case to An Bord Pleanala.
SUMMER AND AUTUMN 1999
CARA
prepared a detailed and extensive case for the impending High Court action
by the ESB ,as did Cork County Council. Senior
Councel were employed and briefed regularly.
Again many meetings were held and a solid case was prepared.
JANUARY 25TH TO FEBRUARY 3RD
High
Court Case. ESB versus Cork County Council and CARA. The
ESB were seeking to revoke the right of the councillors to overturn the planning
permission.
JUNE
28TH 2000
Judge
Finnegan on a point of law ruled in favour of the ESB.
CARA
and its supporters are more committed than ever to fight the ESB and force
the Government to have this line put under the harbour, where it should have
gone originally.