Laois and Kilkenny residents protest against ‘off-shore’ size wind turbines 

Laois and Kilkenny residents have united in another protest against a wind farm in the Ballyouskill area with people in Ballinakill claiming multiple negative impacts from what they claim too big for the scenic inland location.

Communities from both counties gathered in a ‘Drive to Survive’ Car run protest on roads around the boundary between the two counties where the 12-turbine farm is planned by Eco Power Developments.

An Bord Pleanála is considering the plan for the project on the Castlecomer plateau, between the towns of Ballyragget and Castlecomer in north Kilkenny and just south of the Laois border at Ballinakill, which is part of the Laois County Council Portlaoise Municipal District.

The company says the proposed twelve wind turbines have a rotor diameter of 117m. With hubs of 84m for one of the turbines and 96.5m for all other eleven turbines, thus giving an uppermost tip height of 142.5m for one turbine and 155m for all other turbines.

There will also be wind turbine associated works including foundations and hardstanding areas, windfarm roads, underground cabling within the site and eleven site entrances from the public road, eight being existing entrances to farms/forestry

The motorcade protest on Sunday, April 28 was part of a continued opposition to the Ballynalacken wind farm. Residents gathered in Ballinakill before setting off in convoy. They gathered afterwards in local halls.

“We collected more submissions in Ballyouskill hall and Ballinakill hall afterwards, a lot of petition sheets were also handed in and although the signatures haven’t been counted yet we are confident that there’s approximately 1,000 names on our petition already,” organisers on social media.

View of proposed wind farm from Ballinakill GAA.

The motorcade was preceded on April 17 by a public meeting in Ballinakill. The meeting, which was attended by Laois TDs and councillors, heard that the community was not opposed to wind energy but does object to the scale of the turbines. Campaigners say the structures are equivalent in size to an off-shore turbine.

The meeting was told that some residents directly impact were in tears at the meeting, in fear of the impact. A view was expressed that the development infringed on the human rights of the community.

In a notice to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, they outlined the possible impacts to Ballinakill and the surrounding areas as follows:

• Visual – huge (off-shore size) turbines that will tower over Ballinakill
• Flicker & low frequency noise
• A second development is at pre-planning stage for the same area
• Devaluation of house and land prices (up to 50%)
• A decrease in numbers staying/settling in the area leading to a decrease in
• numbers in local schools
• Less opportunities for future houses/planning permission
• Traffic disruption in the village and surrounding roads, traffic lights,
• destruction of roads (up to 6000+ traffic movements)
• Wildlife harm / Water table interference
• After their lifespan (20-25yrs) they will remain as an eyesore for all.

The planning application was submitted to An Bord Pleanála on March 13 and residents have until May 9 to lodge objections.

The final public meeting took place in the CYMS Hall in Ballyragget on Monday, April 28 with further submissions afterwards.