January 31, 2015
Ireland

Meeting agrees protest for County Hall against Barna windfarm plans

The Southern Star | www.southernstar.ie

A Poulanargid woman gave an impassioned speech at a windfarm action group’s meeting this week, issuing a warning against proposed developments.

At the same meeting, Terelton locals were urged to attend a protest at County Hall next Monday and to lodge an objection to a proposed wind farm, with Cork County Council, before the February 2 closing date. The action group is concerned at the size and scope of the planned development, since permission was sought for the construction of six wind turbines, 131m in height, in Barnadivane, between Coppeen and Terelton.

The locals claim the development, as big as a football pitch and twice as tall as County Hall, will have both a visual and environmental impact on their area.

About 300 peopole attended an information meeting in Terelton Community Hall on Tuesday night, chaired by Martin Galvin from Newcestown. Mr Galvin claimed the developers are seeking to also build a sub-station to facilitate the construction of many more wind farms in the wider area.

Local environmentalist Kevin Corcoran voiced his concerns in relation to the dangers of upland development and the Lee Valley catchment area. He warned of increased run-off and flash floods, and the pressure that the river Lee dams are currently under.

Local councillors who attended agreed that the turnout was very impressive and as elected representatives of the people, they were obliged to get behind the fight and would help in any way possible. But there wasn’t total agreement amongst them on Cllr Collins’ suggestion to put down a County Council motion against the recently ratified County Development Plan, which designated areas suitable for wind farms.

Marie O’Sullivan, local mother and farmer, who lives beside four turbines near Poulanargid, near Crookstown, delivered an impassioned, what she termed, a ‘victim impact statement’.

She described, in some detail, how she feels the health of her and her family and animals has been affected by the development, and gave a stern warning to all present, urging them to reject the proposed development while they had the chance. The chairman urged all their supporters to attend a protest on Monday, February 2, at Cork County Hall. He also urged everyone present to lodge an objection with the Cork County Council Planning Department before the closing date – also on February 2.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/01/31/meeting-agrees-protest-for-county-hall-against-barna-windfarm-plans/