October 5, 2012
Ireland

Group welcomes extension given to wind farm hearing

Donegal Democrat | www.donegaldemocrat.ie 5 October 2012

A group opposed to the construction of a 25-turbine wind farm near Glenties has welcomed the extension of the time granted for an oral hearing into the development, which is to be held later this month.

The Glenties Wind Farm Information Group says it is pleased that An Bord Pleanála has extended the time frame for the hearing from an initial period of three days to whatever time is needed for all interested parties to express their concerns.

The application from Straboy Wind Energy Limited for a wind farm at Straboy, Meenalargan, Loughcrillen and Derk Beg, Glenties was granted planning permission earlier this year by Donegal County Council. That decision was appealed by residents who are concerned about the proximity of the wind farm to Glenties and its impact on the local environment.

An oral hearing is to begin on October 11th in the Highlands Hotel in Glenties.

The group said the initial plans for the hearing could have left local people with only one day to have their concerns heard.

A spokesman for the group said: “The group continues to seek support to protect this area from being lost for future generations. Oral hearings are costly but this rural community has no choice but to make a stand and bring to the attention of the planning board the real impacts that are associated with a development of this scale and nature in this sensitive area.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/05/group-welcomes-extension-given-to-wind-farm-hearing/