October 12, 2019
Ireland

‘North Kerry is wide open again to windfarms’

Dónal Nolan | The Kerryman | October 12 2019 | www.independent.ie

A windfarm company is expected to shortly submit planning for a multiple turbine wind farm in what is being seen as a test case at the close of the ’80 per cent’ rule in North Kerry.

A public meeting was convened at Coolard GAA Clubhouse recently by the developers of the proposed windfarm, prompting a backlash from groups opposed to further roll out of the renewables in the North Kerry area.

‘No More Wind Turbines at Ballylongford’ group is now organising an objection to the proposal, which appears to provide for 12 turbines in an area just a few kilometres to the south of Ballylongford, a village increasingly encircled by turbines.

No planning has been applied for as yet, but there are increasing fears that it will come as a crucial test. This is seen as the first major development post the rule, blocking further wind turbines in areas of North Kerry zoned ‘open to consideration’ until 80 per cent of the plans granted planning in those zones – but not built as of January 2015 – were completed.

“North Kerry is now wide open for windfarms again in the open to consideration areas now with the 80 per cent completed,” former chair of the North Kerry Tourism Forum John O’Sullivan warned.

Mr O’Sullivan is campaigning against the Council’s apparent slating of North Kerry as a region to shoulder more renewables than any other part of the county.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/10/12/north-kerry-is-wide-open-again-to-windfarms/