Concerns over proposed wind project on Laois-Kilkenny border
The 'NoToSeskinWindFarm' Group say they were blindsided just months ago by plans to build eight "mega turbines", stretching from Ballyragget to Durrow, impacting on the communities and people who live there.
The action group, which is made up of people from the communities of Durrow, Co Laois and Ballinaslee, Co Kilkenny is one of a number of groups across the Midlands who are protesting against large wind farms in their communities.
"This is an area of protected views under the Laois County Development plan, and it strictly says there should are no wind turbines in this area" said Walter Foyle from the group.
"Yet this company are persisting with a planning application to build eight wind turbines, which measure 175 metres, or 576 feet," he said.
"This is a very beautiful area, and it will totally blight the landscape."
The planning notice by Seskin Renewable Energy Limited outlines plans for the construction of the eight turbines with a tip height of 175m , a rotor blade diameter of 150m; and hub height of 100m along with a substation and a 100m meteorological mast.
The company says the project will power 36,000 homes. They are seeking a ten year planning permission and a 35 year operational life from the date of commissioning.
Locals say they also have safety concerns and are worried about disruption to facilitate turbine traffic, if the proposed planning application gets the green light.
A giant crane will be required to facilitate moving each turbine over houses as the road through the village is not wide enough.
At public meetings they have raised concerns around the practicality of transporting and hoisting 25 tonne turbine blades over homes in the town.
They have also highlighted Tae Lane, an historical area in Durrow, which will effectively be turned into a construction site.
The 'NoToSeskinWindFarm' group believes the project will see native trees removed and infrastructure dismantled.
"It's a hugely important historic area in Durrow and the plan for this is to fill it up with chippings, to cover the green grass, take away all the trees and the pump that's there for as long as I can remember," said Evelyn Clancy, Chairperson of Durrow Development Forum.
"While they bring the turbines in, there's going to be no electricity from eight at night until six in the morning and the traffic, it's going to be mayhem," said Ms Clancy.
"It's devastating for the beatifical village and it will have no benefit for any of us here at all," she added.
Group say guidelines need to be updated
There is also considerable concern around the size of turbines and the group say guidelines around wind energy projects need to be updated and published.
"In the last 18 months, but more so in the last 12 months, the turbines being brought to rural Ireland are 175m to 200m in height," explained Walter Foyle.
"In our case they are 700m from people's dwellings. If these were at sea, they would have to be placed a minimum of 15km from the shore," he said.
Last year, the Government promised that new planning guidelines for wind farms would be introduced by the end the year but that hasn't happened.
Guidelines pertaining to wind farm energy date back to 2006, pending finalisation of an ongoing review.
"We're hoping this will not go ahead, and we're hoping to set a precedent for other areas throughout the country," said Mr Foyle.
"There's a bill going through the Dáil at the moment and we are looking for support for that.
"What we want is to pause this and get the guidelines updated to reflect the industrial sized turbines that are now being foisted on rural Ireland."
In its planning application Seskin Renewable Energy Limited said that the development of the sites viable for wind energy development is "essential" to meet European, national and local climate targets.
"Ireland needs to scale up onshore wind energy development at an unprecedented rate to achieve our 9GW target and 80% RES-E target set out in the Climate Action Plan 2025," it said.
"The reality of achieving these targets requires the installation of over 600MWs of wind energy per year until 2030."
"If permitted, the Proposed Development will be installed and operational before the end of the decade, adding approximately 48MW of renewable, clean energy to our national wind energy capacity," the company stated.
Submissions to both Laois County Council and Kilkenny County Council against the proposed windfarm closed on Tuesday evening.
A decision is due in September.
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