Wind farm objectors claim their posters are being stolen

A MEELICK lobby group is considering reporting the alleged theft of posters to gardai opposing the proposed development of a wind farm in the locality.

Meelick Wind Farm Alert chairman, Niall Ward told the Clare Champion he recently erected two posters at either side of Brennan’s Cross that lasted only three hours before they were mysteriously removed by unknown parties.

Mr Ward said other residents also put up posters outside their own dwelling, which were also removed without their consent.

His concern about the removal of posters comes as the group gears up to host a public meeting for concerned residents and public representatives from both Clare and Limerick on November 4 in the local hall at 7pm.

The project is a proposed 12-turbine wind farm, located on a 140-hectare site neighbouring the townland of Ballycar, north of Meelick.

Mr Ward expressed concern about a number of aspects about this project, particularly the proposed overall height of the turbines, which is expected to be up to 158 metres.

He said they will be about twice the size of St John’s Cathedral in Limerick.

“Six local farmers have decided to put these up on their lands, pocketing massive yearly sums per turbine. They never spoke to locals about their plans.

“There has been little or no consultation with locals from the company behind the project. Many local people received no notification of the information meeting held in The Radisson during the summer.”

The project is at the pre-planning stage with the company expected to submit a planning application in the coming months.

A Greensource spokeswoman said the company has conducted an extensive engagement campaign including publishing a website in October 2021, delivering an information leaflet to residents within two kilometres of the site as well as individual one-to-one engagement with all neighbouring residents throughout November. Ongoing direct engagement with the community has been carried out ever since.

She said 100 residents attended a public information meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel last June, which was a balanced representation of the Ballycar community.

When it emerged that all residents didn’t receive the invite due to an error with An Post, the company wrote to these residents and invited them to a tour of an operational wind farm.

“We are committed to creating a wind energy development that is socially responsible and where community participation plays a central role in how the development progresses.”