Meeting to discuss Eigrid plan

THE Ratheniska Timahoe Spink Substation Action Group are holding a meeting this week to discuss EirGrid’s newly announced 400KV line, joining Cork and Dublin and the possible implications for people in Laois. The meeting takes place at 8pm this Thursday May 3, in the community hall in Ratheniska.

The meeting will update people on the latest campaign activities as well as the next steps which the group want to take. Chairman of the RTS group, John Lowry told the Leinster Express that with Eirgrid’s new announcement, people are wondering what the set up is.

“We’re in the survey area even though Eirgrid have said the new project will not be connected to us but we are very concerned about that. We want to see what Eirgrid are up to at the moment and we are inviting anyone who wants to come along. It is a bigger thing now, there is a very wide survey area, from Portlaoise to Waterford,” he said..

Mr Lowry said he does not believe Eirgrid’s claims that the new project will not affect Ratheniska.

“I wouldn’t believe anything they say after the way they treated us. They haven’t been upfront with us with any of their information so why would you belive them now?”

Mr Lowry asked why the company cannot put their project plans into the public domain and let the people decide instead of keeping everybody in the dark. “We knew about the Cork project for the last year and a half and they denied it. Why are they planning on putting in extra bays (to the proposed Ratheniska substation) if they’re only including one line?”