Pylon review could be election ploy – Weir

Pylon review could be election ploy – Weir


Ciara Galvin

Independent Councillor Seamus Weir who resigned from Fine Gael last week over the Eirgrid controversy has described the announcement of the establishment of an independent commission for the undergrounding of controversial powerlines as ‘an election ploy’.
The former Fine Gael stalwart resigned from the party recently over the ongoing debate about the controversial overhead powerlines from Moygownagh in North Mayo to Flagford near Carrick-on-Shannon.
Cllr Weir said he welcomed the announcement of the establishment of the independent commission but added that he had a ‘gut feeling’ it could be a ploy ahead of the local elections which will be held in May.
He went on to say that there was mounting pressure coming from anti-pylon groups in the county and that he believed there was a crack in the Government’s stance on the project.
“I believe there’s a bit of a crack. Two to three weeks ago it was said it [GridWest Project] couldn’t be undergrounded. There’s a bit of a u-turn on it, but I get the feeling it has to do with the election and that’s very nasty,” said Weir.
The councillor who has served on Mayo County Council for three terms, told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) that he had not been approached by anyone from the Fine Gael party in relation to running in the upcoming local elections.
Mr Weir said the response from people had been very good since he left the party and he said he was ‘proud the way people have came back to me’.
Speaking about running as an Independent, Cllr Weir said his former party would ‘’make sure’ he would not get re-elected.
“When you are Independent to get over the top is going to be tough,” he concluded.