September 23, 2014
Ireland

Valleyview wind farm is rejected

By Padraig Byrne | Carlow People | September 23, 2014 | Published online 27/09/2014 | www.independent.ie

Residents in the Old Leighlin area breathed a collective sigh of relief this week as it was announced that plans to erect a massive wind farm in the area have been rejected by An Bord Pleanala.

Galatech Energy Development Ltd had applied for permission to erect a total of 21 wind turbines, each standing at around 140 metres with a rotor diameter of 82 metres, at Knocknabranagh, Knockbaun, The Ridge, Baunreagh and Lacken.

The development, which was to be known as Valleyview Wind Farm, met with massive opposition from locals in the Old Leighlin area, who held a number of meetings on the topic and enlisted the help of environmentalists in their campaign.

Galatech’s original application had been turned down by Carlow County Council back in April after a record number of submissions were made by the public in relation to it. The case was subsequently referred to An Bord Pleanála, who notified local campaigners this week that the planning application had been rejected.

Residents of the area were shocked on hearing of the original application and expressed grave concerns, not only relating to the desecration of the beautiful landscape of the area, but also in relation to health implications for local people and livestock in the vicinity of the wind farm and noise pollution caused by the rotor blades.

The Facebook page ‘No to windmills in the Old Leighlin area’ this week posted: ‘We are delighted to announce that An Bord Pleanala refused permission for the proposed 21 wind turbines in our area. Well done to everyone involved. Hard work does pay off.’

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/09/23/valleyview-wind-farm-is-rejected/