Anti-windfarm posters removed

FEELINGS are running high in West Clare over a proposed €10 million windfarm, amid claims that posters opposing the development have been removed at one particular location.
A new local anti-windfarm action group has, in a Clare Champion advertisement, appealed to people not to remove their posters.
The issue with the posters was raised in the same week that McMahon Finn Wind Acquisitions Limited lodged an appeal to An Bórd Pleanála against the refusal of planning permission for a new six wind turbine development at Coore West, Shanvogh East and West.
The Local Concerned Citizens Group has sent out a clear message. In its advertisement, it states, “Would the person or persons who keep pulling down and then removing anti-windfarm posters from a private forestry close to The Hand crossroads, please refrain from doing so again.
“Such actions as these are not going to deter anybody from putting up more posters to exercise their democratic right to a peaceful protest,” the statement added.
According to one resident, signs protesting against the windfarm have been left intact in Coore and Clounaheen but have been removed near The Hand.
A letter provided to the council on July 5 last by the agents for the development, Inis Environmental Consultants Limited, stated it had been contacted by numerous people who wanted to voice their support for the windfarm proposal.
“Seventy-nine people from the immediate area signed a petition stating they would like to see the project go ahead and support it fully. The support from the locality and not from the people involved with the project, illustrates the more accurate picture of local sentiment towards the proposed development,” said Inis managing director, Howard Williams.
A total of 44 objections were received by the local authority. Objectors claimed the development would have a negative impact on residential amenities and expressed concern about the adequacy of the environmental impact assessment, assessment on ground and surface water, noise and shadow flicker, property values, the hen harrier, the proposed haulage route, views towards the Atlantic Ocean and Cliffs of Moher, tourist numbers and the Coore Community Scheme, which provides a mains water connection to dwellings.
McMahon Finn Wind Acquisitions Limited was refused planning permission to erect six wind turbines, with a hub height of 85m and rotor diameter of 82m and all associated site works at Coore West, Shanvogh East and West.
An application for 12 wind turbines with hub height of 85m and rotor diameter of 71m, which was submitted by the company on the same site last year, was deemed incomplete by the planning authority.
Having regard to the scale of the proposed development, the location of the site on relatively open lands in proximity to existing residential properties, the noise generated from the proposed wind turbines and from the construction of the proposed development, Clare County Council held the view that the proposed development might seriously injure the amenities of residential property due to noise and visual overbearing.
The authority claimed the development would pose an unacceptable risk to water quality standards in the receiving watercourse, would be prejudicial to public health and impact surrounding surface waters.
It stated it wasn’t satisfied the development, by itself or in conjunction with existing and permitted windfarm developments in the vicinity, would not have a significant adverse ecological impact on the foraging ground of the hen harrier and may also negatively impact on species and habitats in the area.
Commenting on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), it stated inadequate information was provided concerning burrow holes, peat depths, architectural heritage, carrying capacity on the Coore Road, potential of shadow flicker and potential location of wells in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, a local planning consultant claimed the council has undermined its own Wind Energy Strategy, as the issues in the refusal could reasonably have been expected to form the basis of a further information request and didn’t warrant outright refusal of permission.
Brendan McGrath, in his appeal to An Bórd Pleanala, claimed the council’s treatment of this application differed significantly from the application on an adjacent site, West Clare Renewables, which is currently before the board involving a 57-item additional information request.
Mr McGrath pointed out applications for an eight-turbine farm in the Slieve Aughties and an 11-turbine farm at Lissycasey were granted permission following requests for further information and clarification of further information.

Citing the case of another windfarm at Boolynagleragh, Lissycasey, he said the grant of permission had conditions requiring, in advance of construction, a traffic management plan, method statement for disposal of surface water, peat spoil management plan and habitats management plan.
Permission was also given for a seven-turbine farm at Cranny with conditions requiring a peat spoil management plan, a construction management plan and traffic management plan.
“The outright refusal undermines local confidence in the planning process, which should be seen to adhere to the principles of natural justice and fair procedure that are set out in the Development Management Guidelines,” he said.
“These principles are the avoidance of bias, procedural fairness, providing reasons for decisions and consistency. In this instance, the benefits of a clearly stated wind-energy strategy and comprehensive statutory guidance appear to have been negated by inconsistent development management practice,” Mr McGrath said.