theJournal.ie 9/1/2014
Permission refused for Offaly wind
farm
An Bord Pleanála said the ten 110 metre wind turbines at Cloghan
would injure the visual amenities of the area.
AN OFFALY COUNTY Council decision
to grant planning permission to a proposed wind farm in Cloghan has been
overturned.
On receipt of an appeal, An Bord
Pleanála ruled that the 10 wind turbines would impact on the visual landscape
of the area.
The planning application outlined a
development which would include 110-metre tall turbines, with rotor diameters of up to 120 metres, giving them a
maximum tip height of up to 170 metres.
(For context, Liberty Hall – once
Dublin’s tallest building – is just 59 metres. And the Dublin Spire is 120
metres tall).
Both the National Roads Authority
and a private citizen had appealed the local authority’s decision with the planning
board.
Ruling on the
matter, the inspector said he took into consideration the nature of the
environment, including the open nature of the immediately-adjoining lands, as
well as the size and scale of the proposed turbines.
“It is
considered that a wind farm development of the scale proposed would create a
significant visual intrusion in this landscape by reason of the height and
spatial extent of the proposed turbines which would be excessively dominant and
visually obtrusive when viewed from the surrounding countryside and villages,”
the report said.
The inspector also noted the close
proximity of the proposed turbines to the number of residential properties in
the vicinity, as well as the welfare of wildfowl in the area.
“The proposed development could
result in collision of birds with the proposed wind farm. The proposed
development is therefore deemed contrary to the proper planning and sustainable
development of the area,” the report concluded.
A number of other similar developments
are being planned for the midlands, much of which could be considered ‘open
landscape’ as described by the inspector.
Carthy welcomes An Bord Pleanála
decision on Offaly wind farm
The Sinn Féin candidate for the
Midlands North West EU consitutency, Matt Carthy, has welcomed the decision by
An Bord Pleanála to overturn permission for a proposed wind farm in Cloghan,
Co. Offaly.
Commenting on the decision Carthy
said:
“Today’s decision by An Bord Pleanála
to overturn planning permission for a proposed wind farm in Cloghan is a
victory for community campaigners who have worked tirelessly to voice concerns
and opposition to the project.
“The fact that the board cited impact
on the visual landscape of the area vindicates what campaigners have been
saying all along about the impact that such projects could have on tourism and
on the environment.
“Sinn Féin is calling on the
government to introduce a moratorium on the construction of wind farms
pending the framing of a full range of regulations. We are also calling
for a National Wind Energy Strategy which would include planning
regulations with regard to wind farms, the public consultation process that
must be carried out prior to the erection of wind turbines, the sale of the
energy from wind turbines and the taxation levels on wind energy.
“We want to see alternative energy
sources utilised but only in conjunction with local communities that will be
affected by the supporting infrastructure developments. Furthermore the
energy resources of Ireland must be used for the benefit of the Irish
people and not simply developed for the private profit of multi-national
investors.”
Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community
