3rd November 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Greens angry as ESB lines diverted through beauty spot for new Dún Laoghaire Golf Course

The Green Party has strongly criticised the diverting of ESB lines through a South Dublin Beauty spot in order to facilitate the construction of the new Dún Laoghaire Golf Course.

The work consist of the diversion of two existing 110 kilovolt power lines for a distance of six kilometres around the perimeter of the Golf Course that is being relocated from rezoned lands at Dún Laoghaire to farmlands at Ballyman close to the Scalp.

Local people only became aware of the proposal when construction work started recently.

Green Party elected representatives Councillor Tom Kivlehan and Ciarán Cuffe TD have visited the site and were upset by what they saw.

Councillor Kivlehan stated: “The new power-lines are leaving a trail of destruction through Carrigolligan Woods. I can’t believe that this has been allowed happen. The woods are a fantastic amenity, but significant damage has been caused by the felling of thousands of trees.

“I am told that the ESB does not have to put up a site notice for power lines. This means that people are being left in the dark over proposals that cause huge damage to the landscape.”

The new route of the power-lines passes over the ridge of Carrig Golligan hill, a well-known landmark in the south of the County.

Deputy Cuffe added: “People only realised that this was happening when the chainsaws started knocking trees.

“The new route passes close to St. Kevin’s Well in Ballyman Glen. The Glen is a Special Area of Conservation and a proposed National Heritage Area. The line also passes across Leeson’s farm in Ballyman. The Farmhouse is a Protected Structure and I am mystified as to why this was not mentioned on the Planning Application form.

ENDS