An Armagh pressure group have vowed to continue its campaign against the erection of the North-South Interconnector in the border counties.
Safe Energy for Armagh and Tyrone (SEAT) are planning a poster blitz of the affected areas to inform locals on the dangers of overhead power lines.
“We will be putting up ‘No pylons here’ posters in the area, to let the local people in the area know the danger that these overhead power lines can be to their health,” said the group’s spokesman, John Woods.
The Interconnector is a joint project between Eirgrid, Irelands state owned electricity transmission provider, and NIE, the Northern Ireland equivalent.
Plans are to build an 80 kilometre Interconnector from County Meath to County Tyrone. It will carry approximately 400Kv of electricity from a sub station near Navan, through Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh and finally to Moy.
SEAT argues that by using overhead power lines it is greatly increasing health and environmental risks in the one kilometre radius of the connector.
“The connector is a silent killer. Studies have shown that cases of leukaemia and depression are significantly increased in the one kilometre radius of these pylons,” according to Mr Woods.
The pressure group claims that land and properties within a possible distance of 150 metres, could be devalued by as much as 50%.
They have an alternative idea for the electricity to be transported that, they say, will minimise environmental and health risks.
“By putting underground cables down instead of overhead power lines we are minimising the dangerous health and environmental issues that could arise from pylons. These pylons are 100 feet high and 40 feet wide so to put them underground also saves the public from looking at these unsightly structures.”
“NIE have not completed an environmental impact study on the area, on what effects these overhead pylons will have on the area.”
NIE were unavailable to comment, however their website gives reasons why they are not considering putting underground cables in place.
“It is possible that underground voltage cables at this voltage level could be at least ten times more expensive to install and commission than the equivalent overhead line.”
The topic was recently debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly, with all the major parties in attendance. All of the MLA’s voted to oppose the Interconnector, something that was pleasing to SEAT.
“We are pleased with this. However, the minister of the Environment, Arlene Foster, could not fully commit until she awaits planning permission.”
Indeed planning permission could remain a pivotal issue in this debate. John Woods, along with local farmer’s union member Willy Anderson, have been selected by SEAT members to represent them in any negotiations, and letters of authority have been handed to NIE by the group.
John Woods believes that the issue will not go away as long as people understand the issues that could affect them.
“We saw with the protest at Bective abbey in Meath, when over 2000 people turned up to protest against the interconnector, that people are unhappy with NIE and Eirgrid’s decision to have this overhead interconnector. SEAT will be distributing leaflets and putting up posters in the coming weeks to let the public know the risks.”
Safe Energy for Armagh and Tyrone (SEAT) are planning a poster blitz of the affected areas to inform locals on the dangers of overhead power lines.
“We will be putting up ‘No pylons here’ posters in the area, to let the local people in the area know the danger that these overhead power lines can be to their health,” said the group’s spokesman, John Woods.
The Interconnector is a joint project between Eirgrid, Irelands state owned electricity transmission provider, and NIE, the Northern Ireland equivalent.
Plans are to build an 80 kilometre Interconnector from County Meath to County Tyrone. It will carry approximately 400Kv of electricity from a sub station near Navan, through Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh and finally to Moy.
SEAT argues that by using overhead power lines it is greatly increasing health and environmental risks in the one kilometre radius of the connector.
“The connector is a silent killer. Studies have shown that cases of leukaemia and depression are significantly increased in the one kilometre radius of these pylons,” according to Mr Woods.
The pressure group claims that land and properties within a possible distance of 150 metres, could be devalued by as much as 50%.
They have an alternative idea for the electricity to be transported that, they say, will minimise environmental and health risks.
“By putting underground cables down instead of overhead power lines we are minimising the dangerous health and environmental issues that could arise from pylons. These pylons are 100 feet high and 40 feet wide so to put them underground also saves the public from looking at these unsightly structures.”
“NIE have not completed an environmental impact study on the area, on what effects these overhead pylons will have on the area.”
NIE were unavailable to comment, however their website gives reasons why they are not considering putting underground cables in place.
“It is possible that underground voltage cables at this voltage level could be at least ten times more expensive to install and commission than the equivalent overhead line.”
The topic was recently debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly, with all the major parties in attendance. All of the MLA’s voted to oppose the Interconnector, something that was pleasing to SEAT.
“We are pleased with this. However, the minister of the Environment, Arlene Foster, could not fully commit until she awaits planning permission.”
Indeed planning permission could remain a pivotal issue in this debate. John Woods, along with local farmer’s union member Willy Anderson, have been selected by SEAT members to represent them in any negotiations, and letters of authority have been handed to NIE by the group.
John Woods believes that the issue will not go away as long as people understand the issues that could affect them.
“We saw with the protest at Bective abbey in Meath, when over 2000 people turned up to protest against the interconnector, that people are unhappy with NIE and Eirgrid’s decision to have this overhead interconnector. SEAT will be distributing leaflets and putting up posters in the coming weeks to let the public know the risks.”
