A group of eco-activists protesting against plans by the ESB to erect a series of pylons in east Cork yesterday insisted they would not be moved from a wood owned by Coillte where they have set up a protest camp built around tunnels and treehouses.
Coilte says two of its staff this week visited the camp in a coniferous forest behind Saleen village, near Midleton, and pointed out to its occupants that they were trespassing. "We also pointed out that their treehouses are quite dangerous and someone could suffer serious injury if they fell. We also expressed concern that, if the weather gets drier, their camp fire could lead to a forest fire.
"Basically we're just concerned for their safety - somebody could be injured," said a Coillte spokesperson, adding that the company did not understand why the protesters had chosen its land as it had no part in the dispute.
But yesterday a spokesman for the eco-activists said that they would not be moving from the camp and they would remain at the site until the ESB reconsidered its plan to run a 220KV line via pylons from Aghada across Great Island to Raffeen.
"We are in the process of excavating a large number of extra tunnels all along the route. People will be occupying these tunnels as and when the need arises until such time as the ESB reconsiders its plans," he said.
"If the ESB goes ahead with its plan, it will be putting the lives of activists at risk. We are simply maintaining our right to peaceful protest," he said, adding that a full environmental impact statement should be produced on the plan.