Community to march in opposition to route
600 RESIDENTS PACK SCHOOL HALL FOR PUBLIC MEETING
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Wednesday September 08 2010
RESIDENTS of Rush are to continue their opposition to the chosen route of the € 600m EirGrid underground electricity pipeline when they hold a march in the town this weekend. Some 600 people packed into St Joseph's Secondary School hall last Wednesday for a public meeting where members of the local community outlined their concerns about the project. ' The community is now standing together in the face of this adversity and are determined to see it through to a positive outcome by protecting the town,' said David Sheehy, Rush Community Council.
' There had been a significant air of pending doom within the community about this project. ' We had encountered desperation and hopelessness as to what individuals could do in the face of this company which seems to be ignoring Rush, in their determination to force this project through using statutory powers,' he said. The march takes place on Sunday at 1pm, starting at the Millbank and then proceeding down to the North Beach where EirGrid intend to land their cables.
' This walk is a show of support for our community in this struggle with EirGrid,' said Mr Sheehy. Rush Community Council and Rush Chamber of Commerce united to work to have EirGrid alter the section of the route which is going through the town. Rush Community Council have ' ad nauseam repeated to EirGrid' that they are not against the East-West Interconnector but they are ' against the chosen route through the heart of our community,' Mr Sheehy said.
' We have suggested a viable alternative route via the Rogerstown Estuary.'
EirGrid has also reassured locals that there is no health risk from the project, generating no more magnetic field than the earth's natural magnetic field.
' EirGrid have the power to alter this route, indeed they have been doing so on a regular basis along the route,' according to Mr Sheehy. The community of Rush is objecting to EirGrid's plans for the East West interconnector through the town on grounds of health and safety concerns with regard to the cabling to be used, its proximity to houses and premises and fears over the disruption to businesses in the town.
- Nicola DONNELLY
