Hen harrier halts plans for controversial Clare wind farm
The hen harrier has helped put paid to contentious plans for a three-turbine wind farm reaching almost 500ft in height 1km south of the west Clare village of Moyasta located on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Over 200 objections were lodged against the plan by Adare-based renewable energy firm, Greensource for the 492ft high turbines on lands across a number of town lands at Moanmore Lower, Moanmore South, Tullabrack, Tullabrack East and Gower South, Kilrush.
Greensource subsidiary, Moanmore Lower Green Energy Ltd., had entered legal agreement with five local landowners as part of its wind farm plan.
A planning statement lodged with the application stated that the proposed development 'contributes to supplying the national demand for renewable energy, which in the context of the ongoing climate emergency is an urgent Irish national priority'.
However, those to express concerns over the proposal included government Clare TDs - Cathal Crowe (FF) and Joe Cooney (FG).
In an objection, Deputy Crowe told Clare County Council that he wishes to strongly object to the wind farm.
He said his objection was based on a number of concerns such as claimed devaluation of property/properties in the area; the size of the wind turbines; the proximity from houses; potential excessive noise pollution, shadow flickering, negative impact on tourism and too many wind farms in the area and west Clare already.
Deputy Joe Cooney told the council that he had 'significant concerns' over the scheme stating that the turbines would be so prominent as to have a very negative impact on the open coastal and rural landscape.
Members of Clare County Council to object included Cllrs. Ian Lynch (Ind), Rita McInerney (FF) and Michael Shannon (FF).
The chair of Moyasta National School, Caroline Bradley also objected on behalf of the school's Board of Management.
She stated that 'we are concerned for the health and safety of our school community as we are located only 600m from the proposed development'.
Now, the council has refused planning permission on four separate grounds after a 65-page planner's report into the case.
In its decision, the council refused planning permission having regard to: the site's close proximity to known breeding pairs of hen harrier; the potential habitat disturbance arising from the proposed development; the declining population of this bird species in the area; and the limited long-term post-consent hen harrier monitoring data information available with regard to existing wind farms in the area.
The council stated that on the basis of the available information, it cannot be concluded that the proposed development would not result in no significant environmental effects with specific reference to the hen harrier.
The local authority also refused planning permission having regard to the scale and height of the proposed turbines, the location of the site in the open landscape and the existing wind farms in the vicinity of the site.
As a result, the council found that the proposed development would seriously injure the amenities of residential properties in the vicinity due to noise and disturbance.
It concluded that the proposed turbines would be visually overbearing on existing properties and therefore depreciate the value of property in the vicinity.
The council also refused planning permission to the scheme on the basis that it would give rise to an ad hoc and piecemeal proliferation of wind turbines at this location, which would negatively alter the character of this rural landscape.
The planning authority also stated that on the basis of the information submitted with the application, the council considers that the proposed development would constitute an unacceptable risk of pollution of watercourses in the area.
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