January 12, 2019
Ireland

Action group says its has raised €12,000 for legal fees

By John O'Mahony | January 12, 2019 | www.killarneytoday.com

The action group set up to oppose plans for a windfarm development in the greater Gneeveguilla area has said it has achieved its goal of raising the €12,000 required to pay for a legal team to review the file to take An Bord Pleanala’s decision to the High Court.

The Sliabh Luachra Wind Aware Group had set an ambitious €100,000 target but is has so far managed to generate the initial €12,000 required to engage legal counsel.

Overturning a decision of Kerry County Council, An Bord Pleanála gave the green light for a 12-turbine development, subject to 22 conditions, on the Kerry-Cork border. The original plan was for 14 turbines, in addition to two permanent meteorological masts, a high voltage sub-station and two medium voltage sub-stations.

Permission had been denied by Kerry County Council in May 2017 when the local authority suggested that the size and scale of the proposed wind farm would have a significant impact on the value and character of the landscapes in the area and would seriously injure the amenity and quality of life of communities and individuals there.

An Bord Pleanala ruled, however, that the development would not have a significant adverse effect on the landscape or on the visual or residential amenities of the area or its heritage.

The Sliabh Luachra Action Group immediately announced that it would seek a judicial review of the case and a GoFundMe page was set up.

“We have achieved our first goal of raising the €12,000. We are currently awaiting news from the legal team and as soon as we hear back from them, we shall be holding a public meeting to inform the community,” spokesman Fred O’Sullivan told KillarneyToday.com.

“We are doing this for the future generation. We are pro green energy and fully embrace the need for our country to reduce its carbon footprint. What we object to is the wind turbines being built 500 metres from our doors,” he added.

Mr O’Sullivan stressed that the World Health Organisation clearly states that living close to turbines is health hazardous.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/01/12/action-group-says-its-has-raised-e12000-for-legal-fees/