Irish campaigners from Rossport Solidarity Group travelled to Wales last week to join in with protests against a gas pipeline that is being planned to span the breadth of Wales.
The League has reported extensively on the situation at Rossport, County Mayo where Shell Petroleum Ltd. are attempting to progress plans for a high pressure gas pipeline and refinery in the area. Campaigners there are concerned about the safety and environmental impact that the pipe and refinery will have.
Like in Ireland, the same argument is now also being used among campaigners in Wales along the route that the pipeline there is due to take. The pipe will carry Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) 115 miles from the refinery in Milford Haven, Wales to Tirely , England and is planned to carry a fifth of the islands gas supply.
Around 14 protesters have deliberately lodged themselves in the gas pipe at Trebanos, near Swansea for over a week and are determined to stay for as long as necessary. Jim Dunckley, from the Safe Haven Network, commented that the protesters want to highlight the damage that the National Grid was doing to the environment. Adam Price, Plaid MP, commented that "It's London unfortunately trumping legitimate concerns in Wales once again."
The National Grid has forcibly bought land throughout Wales in order to lay the pipe and campaigners want the National Assembly to call in plans for the pipeline. Legal action by the Safe Haven Network, in order to try to stop the pipeline, has so far proved unsuccessful.
It is unclear yet how many protesters from Rossport have made the trip from Ireland to Wales.
(Report compiled by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
19/11/06
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