March 25, 2014
Ireland

A wind farm will ruin our community

Irish Daily Mail | 25 March 2014

Plans for a massive wind farm are attracting bitter opposition from residents – who delivered a coffin with 21 nails to their council as part of a protest.

The development, which will have 21 turbines, is being proposed for The Ridge, Old Leighlin, Co. Carlow. The plans were lodged with the county council last month.

Residents have delivered 250 objections to the council, accompanied by a coffin. They say the plan will ‘kill off their community’.

Tempers have already flared over the plans. Gardaí were called to a recent meeting at council chambers, and escorted protesters from the building.

Construction will begin in 2016 if planning permission is granted, and is expected to take up to 15 months.

Tyrone Kelly, of the Old Leighlin opposition group, said: ‘This proposal will really affect life of up to 300 people who live here and split up the community. These wind turbines will be located just 500 metres from some homes.’

Galetech Energy Development has applied for permission to put up 21 wind turbines, each with a height of up to 99 metres and rotor diameter of up to 82 metres with a maximum tip height of 140 metres. The site will also include a 110,000-volt substation.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/03/25/a-wind-farm-will-ruin-our-community/