Sligo protest at pylon plan

Campaigners have staged a protest outside the ESB's Sligo office opposing the planned construction of a high-voltage power line and over 170 pylons extending 65km.

The 60 campaigners argue that the line, from Flagford, Co Roscommon, to Srananagh, Sooey, Co Sligo, should be placed underground to minimise health risks. They say they will go to jail rather than give the ESB access to their land.

Michael and Martina Roddy, who own a farm at Grange, near Boyle, Co Roscommon, have refused access to ESB representatives on five occasions.

"We have been told that if we continue to refuse access that the ESB will seek a High Court order forcing us to let them on our land," said Ms Roddy.

She said they had been offered a "substantial" compensation, "but look at what we would be losing", she added. She would not continue to live in the family home if they were forced to allow pylons, and part of a power line, to go through their land, she said.

Ms Roddy, who has a six-year-old son, said the biggest concern of landowners was the reported links between such power lines and leukaemia. A spokesman for the ESB national grid said the line was "vital" to meet present and future needs in the north-west. He said surveys indicated no links had been established between such lines and health problems.

He added that the ESB had no plans to seek court orders forcing landowners to give them access. The company said 80 of the tower bases had been constructed and planning permission had been granted. Putting the line underground was not an option because of the expense, and the problems locating and repairing faults.