Tempers fray as anti-wind farm posters removed  

Credit:  By Dan Danaher, Irish Examiner, www.irishexaminer.com 19 August 2011 ~~

Feelings are running high in west Clare over the proposed construction of a €10 million wind farm, amid claims posters opposing the development have been taken down.

A new local anti-wind farm action group has taken out an advertisement in a local newspaper appealing to people to desist from removing their posters.

“Would the person or persons who keep pulling down and then removing anti-wind farm posters from a private forestry close to The Hand crossroads, please refrain from doing so again.

“Such actions as these are not going to deter anybody from putting up more posters to exercise their democratic right to a peaceful protest,” the statement added.

The issue with their posters was raised after McMahon Finn Wind Acquisitions Limited lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the refusal of planning permission for a new six wind turbine development at Coore west and Shanavogh east and west.

The company was refused planning permission to erect six wind turbines, with a hub height of 85m and rotor diameter of 82m, electrical substation and control building and various supporting infrastructure near Mount Callan.