January 19, 2017
Ireland

Challenge to Cork wind farm rejected

Tim Healy | Farm Ireland | 19/01/2017 | www.independent.ie

A number of local residents have lost their legal challenge over approval of permission for a wind farm development in Ballingeary, Co Cork.

The residents’ concerns included about the environmental impact of the development and noise from the turbines.

They disputed An Bord Pleanála’s June 2016 permission for a six turbine wind farm, a substation, underground cables and associated development in the town lands of Derragh, Rathgaskiga and Lack Beg.

Following an earlier High Court decision, Framore Ltd, the developer, revised its planning application to relocate one of the turbines some 50m away from its original proposed location in order to ensure all turbines were a minimum 500 metres away from all residences.

The board granted permission for the revised application but locals challenged it.

On Wednesday (January 18), Mr Justice Brian McGovern dismissed their case.

He found the board did what the previous High Court decision required it to do, “and did so properly”.

It comes as three other, separate cases around wind farm developments, in Clare, Offaly and Wexford, are facing legal challenges in three separate High Court cases.

Environmental group, “Friends of the Irish Environment Ltd”, is challenging a decision by An Bord Pleanala last October to grant permission for a €46m 12-turbine development near Kilmihil, Co Clare.

In the Offaly case, local resident, Brian Kennedy, Stonestown, Cloghan, has challenged the board’s decision to give permission to Gaeltacht Energy Cloghan Ltd for nine turbines in Cloghan.

In the Wexford case, a group of residents have challenged permission given to Ballinclay Windfarms Ltd for three turbines at Clonroche.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/01/19/challenge-to-cork-wind-farm-rejected/