September 24, 2016
Ireland

Region facing wind farm explosion

Region facing wind farm explosion; Major public meeting in Hunterstown Inn on September 27 | Hubert Murphy | Drogheda Independent | 24/09/2016 | www.independent.ie

An area north of Drogheda and including Ardee, Stabannon, Tallanstown and Dromin are set to become wind farm ‘hotspots’ in the future, but one local community has already launched a campaign to fight the giant turbines in their area.

A packed hall in Ballapousta saw the community from Ardee, Collon, Lobinstown, Ballapousta, Smarmore, Drakestown, Rathlust and Kilpatrick come together due to concerns over the proposals for five turbines to be erected in the area. The meeting was told they’ll stretch to 126m in height.

‘It was very vocal but the mood is that the community does not want the development,’ Cllr Dolores Minogue, Cathaoirleach of the Ardee Municipal District stated. ‘People had real concerns about sunlight and the impact of ‘flicking’, noise and health implications.’

The proposed development is right on the Louth/Meath border and Meath Councillor Paddy Meade and his associate, engineer John Callaghan, outlined the long term future of wind farms in Louth, stating that the county was ideal for development.

“If the government is serious about meeting their environmental targets through wind power, they will require roughly 20,000 industrial wind turbines to be erected, with 10,000 of these roughly in the Dublin surrounds. Much of the Wicklow Mountains, Cooley Mountains and county Meath in sight of Newgrange have been ruled out but Mid Louth, from just north of Drogheda as well as the North Meath Area have become the ideal focus area now.’

The Louth County Development Plan 2015-2021 reveals that the majority of the county is ripe for wind power and the Drogheda area, from Termonfeckin across to Slane and on to the Meath border can be considered.

‘I would suggest that the communities in Louth sit down and consider in depth their view on the future of their county, for be it positive or negative there is no doubt that plans for Ballapousta added to the ones on the way for Tallanstown, Stabannon, Dromin as well as Lobinstown (Meath) will add up to a dramatic change to the landscape, economy and future prosperity in these areas.

‘The people of Louth have to decide if they are happy for Mid-Louth to become a dumping ground for the government’s wind farm policy.’ He says communities must find out as much as they can on wind power and get involved in the planning process.

A major public meeting takes place in the Hunterstown Inn on Tuesday, September 27 at 7.30pm in relation to the latest proposals in that area. All are welcome.