Environmental activists yesterday confirmed that they are building extra defences at camps in east Cork in anticipation of a major pylon network across Cork Harbour and east Cork by the ESB.
Eco-activist "Fergus" said that the group, which has established camps at Cobh and Saleen, outside Midleton, has issued an appeal to other eco-activists to join it. "We got reports, unconfirmed at the moment," he said, "that the ESB has begun pegging out land at Raffeen at the other side of Cork Harbour and the ESB has advertised for outside crews for work in east Cork, so we're expecting the ESB will start work soon.
"We've sent out calls for support from other eco-activists in Ireland and abroad to come and join but we're not in a state of panic and we're also very conscious that we will only win this with the support of the local community behind us," he said.
The defences being prepared by over 30 eco-activists at the Cobh and Saleen camps, both of which are on the planned pylon route, include tunnels, tree houses and "lock-ons" to which the activists plan to chain themselves.