Windfarm would aid tourism, states study

THE proposed €100 million windfarm in West Clare would enhance tourism in the Doonbeg area, according to the findings of a feasibility study presented by engineers contracted by the developers.

Clare Coastal Wind Power Limited has lodged a planning application with An Bord Pleanála for the development of a 45-turbine windfarm spanning the parishes of Doonbeg, Kilrush and Cooraclare.
According to a feasibility study completed by Jennings O’Donovan and Partners, the windfarm has good wind regime, good access points, good grid connection options, is not located within a designated area of conservation and would enhance tourism in the Doonbeg area.
The study claimed the development would not impact the vistas of the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Ballyea waterfall, the Burren and Spanish Point where North Atlantic views form the main scenic amenity.
“It is evident that the Doonbeg tourism industry revolves around coastal scenery and amenity and, therefore, it is not anticipated the proposal will cause any negative impact,” it stated.
The study also cited an independent report produced by Sustainable Energy Ireland in 2003 called Attitudes towards the development of Wind Farms in Ireland, which found 80% of people supported the construction of a wind farm in their area, while 25% felt that wind farms superimposed on highly scenic landscapes and impacted negatively on the view.
“Ninety per cent of tourists visiting some of Scotland’s top beauty spots say the presence of wind farms makes no difference to the enjoyment of their holiday and twice as many people would return to an area because of the presence of a wind farm than would stay, according to a poll carried out by MORI Scotland, commissioned by the British Wind Energy Association.
“According to this study, wind farms have the potential to benefit an area’s tourist industry. Studies demonstrate once the wind farm becomes operational, people generally have no problems with it,” the study stated.
According to documents provided to the appeals’ board, the wind farm site layout, turbine information/specification and construction information were provided at an information evening on February 22 last.
All attendees were encouraged to complete feedback forms. The company received 44 all of which were positive.
The consultants stated the site doesn’t have any environmental or conservation designations, complies with government, EU and global policies and with the Department of Environment’s national planning guidelines for wind farms.
It is also located within an area designated as acceptable in principle in the Draft Clare County Council Wind Energy Strategy.
However, the newly-formed rural protection group has claimed concerns continue to grow concerning the development as people now realise this “massive industrial development that will change the West Clare landscape forever”.
In a statement, the group alleged a number of people who signed to support this project have said they never saw a map and signed because they were told that their neighbours had or that people who did not sign to support it would find it very hard to get work in the area in future.
It claimed some people who previously supported the development didn’t realise its magnitude, long-term implications for the area and that planning permission has been granted for six turbines at Tullabrack, yet to be built, in addition to the existing 335ft high wind turbines at Monmore and the proposed 45 windturbines 415ft high. This adds up to a total of 58 turbines in a “coastal area, which is heavily populated”.
“In spite of lucrative financial offers, the two largest and longest-established organisations in Doonbeg, Doonbeg GAA Club and Doonbeg Community Development Co Ltd, both refrained from involvement as the issue was considered to be divisive.
“Many of the people who will benefit do not live in the area and the direct area involved is far larger than Shragh. Shragh is a rural townland that does not have a restaurant, pub or shop so it was very convenient to call the proposed development The Shragh Wind farm. What about all the pubs, restaurants, shops, hotels, bed and breakfasts and sporting and leisure facilities and take-aways in Spanish Point, Quilty, Cree, Cooraclare, Doonbeg, Kilrush and Kilkee?
“If tourists stop coming to the area, these businesses will not have the anticipated spin-off. No cost-benefit analysis has been done to validate the claims of the developers. There is absolutely no evidence that wind turbine industrial developments generate tourism or benefit the wider community. If they do, why do they need such a hard sell to the communities they are marked for? If they are so beneficial, why, as in this case, are so many organisations offered sponsorship and annual incomes by the developers? Is it not at best an attempt at compensation or incentive to take industrial developments that other communities might not?
“What happens when the technology changes and becomes outdated – who is going to take down these monstrosities? Will the people who are applying for this planning permission and the people who gave letters of support take responsibility for their decisions when these turbines are no longer economically viable and obsolete?
“The seven operational wind turbines in Monmore are supposed to be taken down and removed from the site and the landscape returned to its original state per planning permission 00/952 upon termination of the use of the wind farm. Who is responsible for this?
“In relation to all industrial wind turbine developments, who will take responsibility for de-commissioning them? Will the county councils who currently cannot fill the pot holes in the roads take them down? Who actually owns them and who is responsible for them – is it the county council, An Bord Pleanála, the landowners who signed a contract to have them on their land or the developers? Many of the development companies will no longer exist due to sell-offs or liquidations.
“It is something that will eventually be decided by the courts as no doubt when this becomes an issue, it will become the collective responsibility of all involved and there will be many a land owner sorry that they ever got involved,” the group claimed.
A company spokesman declined to comment on the group claims.