January 7, 2014
Ireland

Protesters picket council meeting over windfarm plan

By Donal Hickey | Irish Examiner | January 07, 2014 | www.irishexaminer.com

In Tralee, around 25 people objecting to a proposed windfarm in a rural area near Listowel protested outside a Kerry County Council meeting.

They are opposing a planning application to be lodged with the council for a development, including 10 turbines, each 156-metres high, in the Ballyhorgan/Finuge area, by Stacks Mountain Wind Farm Ltd.

The group’s chairman, Gerard Doyle, said they were seeking support for a motion to be tabled by Labour councillor Pat Leahy for the Jan 20 meeting.

The motion will be calling on the council to defer a decision on a planning application until after new guidelines had been published in relation to Windfarms,” Mr Doyle said.

“We lobbied councillors today and are happy with responses we have been getting from them.”

The turbine will be the tallest yet to be erected in Ireland.

Stacks Mountain Windfarm Ltd has said its proposal is for a site within an area identified in the Kerry County Development plan as having the capacity to support Wind Development.

The company also said it has carried out extensive studies in relation to wildlife and other issues and a formal planning application would fully detail every aspect of the proposal.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/01/07/protesters-picket-council-meeting-over-windfarm-plan/