 Survey work on the project is being carried out in the Irish Sea |
Construction work will start next year on a 250km (155 mile) electricity cable linking north Wales and the Irish Republic if it wins planning approval. High voltage electricity cables would be laid under the Irish Sea from Prestatyn to the north of Dublin under the East West Interconnector scheme. It will carry 500 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power about 300,000 homes. Exhibitions explaining the scheme are being held in Prestatyn and Flint. It is being developed by EirGrid, an independent electricity transmission system operator in the Irish Republic. If planning permission is granted, construction work will begin in 2009 and the interconnector will be operational from 2012. Renewable energy EirGrid said it would provide benefits to electricity consumers on both sides of the Irish Sea. It said as well as helping secure energy supplies in both countries through the two-way transmission of electricity, it would have the potential to create access to a new market for energy generated in Wales, particularly renewable energy. Once ashore, the electricity cables will go underground to a planned converter station in Deeside, where the electricity will be adapted to meet the technical requirements of the UK's high voltage grid network. The company said the cables will mainly follow the route of the A548 and it has liaised with Flintshire council over the route to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. Ecological It also said the cables which will come ashore at Barkby Beach in Prestatyn would be routed around Flint town centre. Project director John Fitzgerald said: "We assessed various routes for the interconnector during a comprehensive marine survey and found the route to Barkby Beach to be the most suitable. "This was due to ecological and practical reasons." Mr Fitzgerald said the cables will be buried deep under the beach and "will have no visual impact on the coastline. He added; "Protecting public safety and minimising disruption are priorities for us and we have liaised extensively with local authorities during the planning of the project and the route the cables will follow once ashore." The first exhibition on the interconnector takes place at Christ Church Village Hall, High Street, Prestatyn, on Thursday and the second at Flint Leisure Centre on Friday. (1400 - 1700 BST).
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