July 23, 2016
Ireland

Fury over board’s ‘off-on’ decision on wind turbines

The Kerryman | 23/07/2016 | www.independent.ie

Scores of objectors to a proposed wind turbine in Causeway have been left ‘reeling’ after An Bord Pleanála informed them it would grant the development permission – just a week after informing the group it had decided to uphold their appeal and refuse the plan.

Members of the North Kerry Wind Turbine Awareness Group are up in arms over the turnaround by the appeals board and are now demanding answers as to how two completely different outcomes were issued within days.

In a letter to one of the members of the group living close to the site of the proposed turbine, An Bord Pleanála said ‘the inconvenience caused is regretted’, citing ‘errors’ in two parts of the initial order issued on July 7.

Over 40 residents of the greater Aghamore area in Causeway objected to Coillte’s proposal to erect the single turbine on forestry in Aghamore, Causeway.

One of their principal fears relates to the effects of the turbine noise on the highly-sensitive children attending a special autism unit at Killahan National School just 2kms away.

Newly-retired principal of the school and chairman of the group Gerry Doyle said that ‘local residents have been left reeling, shocked and dismayed’.

“When we received the official notification stating that permission was refused we were overjoyed as we had spent 16 months campaigning against this development. However, following the letter on July 18 this has turned to confusion and dismay,” Mr Doyle said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/07/23/fury-over-boards-off-on-decision-on-wind-turbines/