Progress has been made in mediation talks aimed at solving a three-year dispute between developers of a wind farm near Bantry, Co Cork, and 26 local farmers.
The wind farm electricity-generating station at Glanta Commons is being developed by local businessmen Bob Murnane and Denis O'Shea, of Ballybane Wind Farms Ltd. The ESB is contracted to install a 14km (8.7 mile) overground powerline which would be connected to the national grid.
Farmers living along the route of the proposed powerline, who are members of the Bantry Concerned Action Group, are opposed to the overground powerline on safety grounds and want the cables laid underground.
Yesterday, talks began between the action group and the developers. Malcolm Thompson, president of the Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association, acted as mediator. He said last night that while progress had been made, nothing could be taken for granted at this stage, as discussions were on the basis that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.
Action group chairman Joe Burke said that while there was agreement in principle to powerlines going underground, a final decision would depend on the route. The group believed it was highly unlikely that the underground line would follow the same route as the overhead line for geological and technical reasons.
He said the group believed that powerlines for all wind farms should go underground, as this was common practice throughout Europe.