August 6, 2016
Ireland

‘Our blood is boiling over decision’

Dónal Nolan | The Kerryman | 06/08/2016 | www.independent.ie

Hundreds of families directly affected by the Bord Pleanála-approved plan to locate ten of the country’s highest wind turbines right on their doorstep in Finuge are to be canvassed on Thursday night towards mounting what could prove a costly legal battle against the windfarm.

The North Kerry Wind Turbine Awareness Group (NKWTAG) is hosting a third public meeting since news the controversial Stacks Mountain Windfarm plan was approved by the appeals board last week – at Dromclough National School in the heart of the affected land on Thursday night at 8pm.

Despite prompting the largest number of submissions ever seen by Kerry County Council on a single plan, despite Kerry County Council already refusing permission on visual impact grounds and despite its own inspectors raising serious concerns over everything from the lack of information over grid connectivity to noise pollution, An Bord granted permission last week subject to a number of conditions.

Now, after an exhaustive battle over the past two years NKWTAG are facing an even costlier fight in the courts to keep the members’ homes free from the shadow of the ten 156m-high behemoths (30ms higher than Dublin’s Spire).

The group has engaged a legal team with background in this area and is meeting residents on Thursday to discuss the plan further.

“Blood is boiling here after this decision to be honest and we’re hosting the public meeting on Thursday now to find out which way residents want to go from here as we need the public to stop this,” Chairman of the NKWTAG Gerry Doyle told The Kerryman.

Obtaining a judicial review of the Bord’s decision will be the first step in the legal battle, providing the legal experts now examining the case believe the case will qualify for a judicial review.

“People are furious here now as it feels like our voice isn’t being heard at all, despite lodging the largest submission ever received by Kerry County Council.

“Meanwhile, the PSO levy which funds sustainable energy and makes up part of everyone’s electricity bill was raised again this week. People don’t realise how so-called green energy is costing more and more and how it is devastating communities,” Mr Doyle added.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/08/06/our-blood-is-boiling-over-decision/