Residents along the Sruwaddacon estuary, a special area of conservation, say they rund the gauntlet of convoys of "heavy goods vehicles, vans with blacked-out windows, police vehicles and construction traffic" along rural roads on a daily basis.
The residents claim they are under "constant surveillance" by Gardaí and Shell private security, and say that people's private hedgerows fencing off their land have been "deliberately destroyed by council operatives/private contractors employed by Mayo County Council" to facilitate the gas project.
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SHELL EP Ireland has confirmed they received a copy of a "detailed complaint", submitted to the Mayo County Council that includes 104 letters with 112 signatures and have said they are now observing "several hundred conditions" attached to planning permissions and permits for the project.
The Corrib Natural Gas field lies some 83km off the north west coast of Ireland, approximately 3,000 metres under the seabed and in waters 350 metres deep.
"In addition to observing these conditions, we strive at all times to carry out our work in a way that has the least impact on the local community" said a Shell spokesperson.
"We are always available to listen to concerns and to discuss ways in which any impacts our work may be having can be reduced further where feasible."
The Garda and Mayo County Council have so far made no comment on the complaints.
(HMc/GK)
