Lismore Town Council open letter to Eirgrid about the gridlink pylons issue Lismore Town Council 19lh November, 2013 Licence F5007, The Grid Link Project Manager, EirGrid, POBox 12213, Glenageary, Co. Dublin. The Grid Link Project Dear Sirs, Lismore Town Council members are deeply shocked and abhorred to learn of the proposal by EirGrid to cross near the scenic town of Lismore with metal pylons of up to 43m in the manner indicated along the route K11. We are also dismayed, that as a Town Council, we were not invited to make submissions prior to identifying feasible options given the proximity of the K11 route to the town of Lismore and Environs. We, the members of Lismore Town Council would like to draw your attention to the lack of consultation as set out in the Aarhus Convention which was adopted on the 25th June, 1998 in the Danish City of Aarhus. The Convention provides for the right of everyone to receive environmental information that is held by public authorities (access to environmental information). This can include information on the state of the environment, but also on policies or measures taken, or on the state of human health and safety where this can be affected by the state of the environment. The Convention also provides for the right to participate in environmental decision-making. Arrangements are to be made by public authorities to enable the public affected and environmental non-government organisations to comment on, for example, proposals for projects affecting the environment, or plans and programmes relating to the environment, these comments to be taken into due account in decision-making, and information to be provided on the final decisions and the reasons for it (public participation in environmental decision-making ) The right to review procedures to challenge public decisions that have been made without respecting the two aforementioned rights or environmental law in general (access to justice ) are also contained in The Convention. We believe that the arrogant approach taken by EirGrid as part of their public consultancy following the publication of the Stage 1 report and in particular the stance being taken that the route of each 1km corridor identified cannot be changed is not in compliance with public consultancy and would appear to be in breach of the Aarhus Convention. We feel that this proposed route of pylons will be an invasion to the beautiful landscape in an area which is renowned worldwide for its beauty. The Draft Lismore Local Area Plan 2013- 2019 identifies Lismore as an attractive heritage town, the largest in West Waterford. The following excerpt from the Plan is of note: Lismore has very strong built heritage which defines its character and unique identity. Lismore Castle is an iconic landmark building on the eastern approach to the Town. Lismore has an important role in not just attracting tourists to the area, but also in providing local services to the West of the County. Lismore is identified as a District Service Centre because it is an important resource for its hinterland, providing community and infrastructural facilities and services and the population base to maintain the Town. The Draft Lismore Local Area Plan 2013-2019 also recognises the rich and varied nature of Lismores architectural heritage which includes some fine civic buildings, some designed by pre-eminent Irish architects, and sites of archaeological, ecclesiastical and historical interest. Lismore Castle, overlooking the River Blackwater, with its battlemented towers and turrets, forms a dominant landmark and dates from medieval times. The proposal of these metal pylons of up to 43m along the route indicated on route K11 will have a catastrophic effect on the tourism in this area. In 2004, Lismore won the Title of Irelands Tidiest Town and since 2004, the town has successfully won the Gold Medal Award in County Waterford every year. In 2005, the town won the Gold Award in the European Entente Florale Competition and in 2011 the Notice Nature and Biodiversity Award for the South East Region was awarded to the town. The level of work, finance and volunteerism in order to achieve such awards has been massive and if the K11 proposal is granted, all of this work will be decimated. Lismore Town Council Members would also like to draw your attention to Appendix A10 Nature Conservations Designations as outlined in the 2011-2017 Waterford County Development Plan. There are several areas in proximity of Lismore which are designated according to the EU Habitats Directives for protection of habitats and species. Lismore Woods (Part of River Blackwater Special Areas of Conservation include rich woodland of oak and hazel, probably surviving since ancient times. S pecial Protection Areas in County Waterford include the Blackwater Callows which are habited by the Whooper Swan, Bewicks Swan, Golden Plover and Kingfisher. The importance of protecting our Natural Heritage and Areas of Conservation cannot be reiterated enough. We would like to refer to a recent case which was taken to the Supreme Court and in March 2010 referred Sweetman vs. An Bord Pleanala and Minister of Environment to the European Court of Justice. The Supreme Court referred to the European Court of Justice, key issues in a legal dispute about whether An Bord Pleanalas go-ahead for a city outer by-pass road is invalid on grounds it breaches European law. The case centred on the interpretation of Article 6.3 of the Habitats Directive which stipulates any plan likely to have significant effect on a protected site must be appropriately assessed as to is implications for the sites conservation objectives. Article 6.3 also prohibits approval of any plan which adversely impacts on the integrity of the site. The European ruling on the case C258/11 found in favour of the appellants. The effects on human health by having these pylons in close proximity to houses is still unknown and it will be too late for our grandchildren and great grandchildren if it is proven in years to come that indeed living under or next to 400KV power lines increases the risk of cancer . This is a tragic legacy for all future generations. Lismore Town Council demand EirGrid to come up with alternatives such as placing the cables underground or to put them off shore. If this development goes ahead you will beresponsible for destroying the landscape and beauty of this area forever. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter of observation and protest against this The Grid Link Project in the Lismore Area and indeed, County Waterford. Yours sincerely, Mayor Jan Rotte Cllr. John Heneghan Cllr. Bernard Leddy Cllr. Ken Madden Cllr. Julie Landers Cllr. Orla Russell Cllr. Joe Tobin Cllr. Jimmy OGorman Cllr. David Whelan Members of Lismore Town Council cc. Minister Pat Rabbitte, Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 19:54:17 +0000
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