EirGrid has apologised to the local community and must now reapply to An Bord Pleanala for retention of works it carried out prior to planning conditions being in place at a site in Laois.
EirGrid has given an undertaking that no other works will be carried out at the Coolnabacky site near Timahoe and Ratheniska until all the necessary planning conditions have been agreed with Laois County Council.
Those opposed to the project were incensed recently to find out that work had begun, allegedly in breach of its planning conditions.
EirGrid has admitted that in April 2017, works started at the Coolnabacky electricity station site without the planning conditions being discharged with Laois County Council, including the erection of a temporary pylon.
“EirGrid and ESB Networks regret this occurrence and we apologise to Laois County Council and the local communities,” an EirGrid spokesperson said.
“We understand the concerns this incident may have caused and we would like to reassure you that we are reviewing our processes internally to ensure this does not occur in the future,” the spokesperson added.
“Once this issue came to light we immediately ceased all works. No further works shall take place until the necessary planning conditions have been agreed in writing with the planning authority, Laois County Council,” the company spokesperson added.
The temporary pylon is required during the construction works to ensure the safety of workers on site and to maintain security of electricity supply as an existing overhead line runs close to the perimeter of the new station, EirGrid outlined.
It claimed that once the station is built this temporary pylon and line diversion will be removed. This pylon is on ESB land and is over 800 metres away from the nearest house, according to EirGrid.
“We have now applied to An Bord Pleanála for an alteration to the planning permission for this temporary pylon,” the spokesperson said.
The state owned company said the Laois-Kilkenny electricity project is required to improve the security of electricity supply in the region.
“This €110 million investment in the area will ensure that the electricity network can meet the present and future needs of all users, from homes to farms, and small businesses to industrial customers,” it said.
Fears over threats to a local water supply were outlined by the the local Ratheniska, Timahoe, Spink Substation Action Group (RTS Group) earlier this week.
Concerns
“The concerns of the rural community centre on health, landscape and the environment but most particularly that the construction is taking place at the location of a regionally important aquifer, which is the source of domestic water supply for up to 8,000 residents,” a spokesperson for the RTS Group said.
“Minister Naughten, An Bord Pleanala and Laois County Council must now ensure that Eirgrid are held responsible, that all illegal works be removed and the site restored with the permission forfeited and revoked in order to demonstrate accountability, proper enforcement and to restore public confidence that the planning laws actually extend to and apply to State entities such as Eirgrid,” the RTS spokesperson said.
SEE ALSO – Anger as EirGrid sub-station works begin before planning conditions are met
