Sir, – John Robinson (November 12th) suggests burying cables as an alternative to overground pylons. However, underground cables are not the panacea that many think.
First, EirGrid does not posses any Channel Tunnel-style undergrounds boring plant. Therefore, laying cables involves the very destructive process of excavating a route before they can be laid. Second, once the cables are laid it’s not just back to life as normal. For maintenance and safety reasons there needs to be a substantial sterilised corridor maintained above ground and effectively renders the area above the cables useless.
This is in addition to the vastly increased cost and maintenance difficulties that attend laying underground power cables. – Yours, etc,
COLM KELLY,
Christ’s College,
Cambridge, England.