February 21, 2014
Ireland

1,100 people sign petition opposing wind farm plans

By Donal Hickey | Irish Examiner | February 21, 2014 | www.irishexaminer.com

The North Kerry Wind Turbines Awareness Group has handed in the signatures to Kerry County Council, and 300 objections have also been lodged to a planning application for a 10-turbine wind farm in the Ballyhorgan area, near Listowel.

Stacks Mountain Windfarm Ltd has lodged the application for a site within an area identified for wind development in the Kerry County Development Plan.

However, a strong campaign of opposition is being mounted by local communities who have staged two protests outside the council’s buildings in Tralee.

They claim the 156.5-metre turbines would destroy the character of the rural landscape, would devalue property and cause divisions in the community. A decision on the planning application is due next month.

Gerard Doyle, representing the group, yesterday said 80% of the people were against the “mass expansion’’ of turbine developments in north Kerry.

“People are realising that it’s not just about ten turbines in Ballyhorgan, it’s about 450 industrial turbines within a 30km radius of north Kerry and safeguarding our futures and the future of north Kerry,’’ he said.

Turbines would surround Listowel, Ballyduff, Ballybunion, Lixnaw, Kilflynn,Abbeydorney, Kilmoyley, Duagh, Moyvane, Tarbert, Ballylongford and beyond.

The opposition group has threatened to take its case to the EU, if necessary.

Meanwhile, Stacks Mountain Windfarm Ltd said that in designing the wind farm proposal, extensive studies of the wildlife in the area, archaeology, hydrology and every aspect has been undertaken to compile a comprehensive environmental impact assessment.

The company, which has held an information meeting in Listowel, said it would be glad to deal with any issues individual house owners may have.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/21/1100-people-sign-petition-opposing-wind-farm-plans/