Councillors raise concerns over proposed Coolcappa wind-farm 

Concerns were raised with Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) this week regarding the health effects for local communities from wind turbines as a protest took place outside over a proposed wind-farm in Coolcappa.

Over 20 residents from the West Limerick village protested at the Dooradoyle chamber before Monday’s meeting with placards reading ‘Protect Our Future Generation’, ‘560 Metres is Too Close For Kids To Grow Up Beside’, and ‘Wind Turbines Putting Wealth Before Health’.

The protesters said they are opposed to a proposed wind-farm in their locality and expressed fears the development will have a detrimental impact on their health.

The proposed wind-farm, according to the developer, will be “located outside Coolcappa, with an overall height (tower plus blade) of 158 meters, and a hub height (tower) of 90 meters”. The plans by Ballynisky Green Energy for a six-turbine wind farm has met with strong opposition from residents around the impact of “noise pollution” and “shadow flicker” on their health and livelihoods

This Monday, Coolcappa Community Action Group members also sat in the gallery of County Hall as Fine Gael councillor Stephen Keary called on the local authority to take action. Cllr Keary urged the council executive to request a full and up-to-date report from the Minister for Health regarding wind turbines.

“Their needs to be research done on existing wind farms to see what issues they are creating on health and if there is continuous noise and continuous shadow flicker, this is an absolute health nuisance to anyone living nearby,” he declared.

Cllr Adam Teskey (FG) seconded the motion, and pointed out that he is the immediate representative to the Coolcappa area. “Law abiding and tax-paying residents in Coolcappa”, are now “living in fear”, he then went on to tell the council executive.

“They are living in fear for a wide range of issues and concerns. Most noticeably, there is the possibility of an application coming before us that’s going to see the erection of wind turbines in our parish. I believe it is not the correct place to put these turbines. I have alway been on record for saying off-shore is best for this. Don’t be bringing them into my community, dividing it,” he insisted.

“You are putting people’s lives at risk. These are people who are taxpayers, mortgage holders, who have erected houses in the area for themselves, for their sons, for their daughters, for their future generations, for the schools, in the area and vicinity that I represent.”

Independent councillor John O’Donoghue proposed that LCCC allow no planning under the current Wind Energy Development guidelines and called for the County Development Plan to be amended to state that.

“Until the new guidelines are published and it is shown what the implications are, then we can move forward. Are they doing what they say on the tin?” he asked.

Director of Planning, Environment and Place-Making, Vincent Murray said the Council would write to the Minister for Health in relation to Cllr Keary’s motion. He also explained that there is currently no live planning application before LCCC for a proposed wind-farm in Coolcappa.

“However, there has been discussions about it and it hasn’t come in, but not all planning applications for wind-farms would come to this local authority. Depending on the size of it, some of them might go directly to An Bord Pleanála, so we are not in control of all applications,” he added.