June 11, 2013
Ireland

Campaigners delight as wind farm planning permission turned down

Donegal Daily | June 10, 2013 |

Campaigners in Glenties and Straboy are delighted today after An Bord Pleanála turned down planning permission for a massive wind farm in their area.

The local wind farm information group represented the majority of the appellants and observers in the appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the decision earlier last year by Donegal County Council to grant permission for 25 turbine wind farm at Straboy and adjacent townlands near Glenties.

The Group contested the grant of permission by Donegal County Council at an oral hearing last October in Glenties.

A spokesman for GWiG said: “This is an area of intrinsic value in terms of natural beauty, the environment and cultural heritage and we questioned the logic of how a development like this could be granted permission sited as it was so close to the town of Glenties and within 1.5km of over 800 local residents.”

Donegal County Council had granted permission – but that has now been overturned.

“The social fabric of the area is dependent on the retention of young families and the attraction of the area as a place to bring up a young family. Few voices question the importance of wild, unindustrialised landscape as an asset for the community but anyone with a concern for the environment should also consider the importance of preserving areas like this, both from a desire to protect our fragile ecosystems and from a recognition of their capacity to enrich human life through spiritual and poetic inspiration,” said the spokeswoman.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/11/campaigners-delight-as-wind-farm-planning-permission-turned-down/