| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind farm finally gets the go ahead at Loughgiel
Credit: Ballymoney and Moyle Times | 29 October 2013 | www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Planners have been accused of riding roughshod over a community whose long running campaign against a wind farm development in Loughgiel has finally ended in defeat.
Opponents of the project have waged an 18-month battle against the erection of nine turbines at Altaveedan insisting that it would be harmful to the area and citing a number of objections to support their argument.
However, at a meeting of Ballymoney Borough Council last week, the plan was formally approved by the Planners and the council, but not before a barrage of criticism emerged from some councillors in the presence of eight people who sat in silence in the public gallery.
The application by RES UK and Ireland represents a major investment in the Loughgiel area. Public exhibitions were held to bring the plan to the attention of the community andlocal representatives and a full environmental statement was prepared examining a range of issues before being submitted to the Planning Service.
RES have paid out £100,000 to boost community funds in the Loughgiel area as well as offering a possible discount of £200 to 250 homes but that cut little ice with the objectors who mounted a robust campaign to have the plan turned down.
However a senior planning officer, Stephen Hamilton, insisted that all submissions had been given careful consideration by the Department and a detailed consultative programme had been undertaken .
He said they had recognised the genuine concerns by the Residents’ Group and the Orra Action Group but, the application had met all the policy requirements and as a result an approval had been recommended.
Chief Executive, John Dempsey, read a letter from local MP, Ian Paisley, who said that generally he was in favour of wind turbines as alternative sources of energy and that “I wish no further delay and ask that it be approved.”
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Contributions |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=58151 ]
