Greater Birr Wind Action Group cancels public meeting in Ballyegan Hall
Wind Farm company makes 3rd planning submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála
THE Greater Birr Wind Action Group has cancelled its public meeting in Ballyegan Hall in its ongoing fight against the proposed Ballincor Wind Farm.
"We woke up this morning to a new round of site notices," Laura Dargan of The Greater Birr Wind Action Group told The Midland Tribune, "which means that RWE's Planning Submission will be available for public viewing on Friday May 15th; therefore our planned meeting in Ballyegan Hall on Tuesday May 12 is too early and will have to be postponed. After the Submission becomes publicly available it will be open for objections for a period of 7 weeks."
A couple of weeks ago it was reported that RWE had withdrawn its application to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) to erect 11 mega turbines in the Sharavogue Bog area. However, a week later RWE re-submitted its application to ACP. Then a few days later it was reported that RWE was resubmitting its planning application to ACP for a third time and the Submission would be available for public viewing on May 15. "Unfortunately it means that the saga continues," remarked Laura. "The application is live. ACP says withdrawing a planning application twice is very unusual. Naturally enough the community is perplexed by this."
The Greater Birr Wind Action Group was formed a few months ago to fight the proposed development of this Wind Farm to the south of Birr. In order to lodge its objection in a meaningful way, the Group is raising funds. “Any donation small or large will be truly appreciated,” they say. They have set up an idonate account and have so far raised €13,430 of a €16,000 target.
“In recent years the Birr area has become a focal point for international wind developers,” the Group says, “with seven wind farms totalling 72 industrial turbines already granted permission or operating around the town.” At the forefront of the Group’s concerns is the fact that the Ballincor area has been designated as not suitable in the County Development Plan and it is too close to protected European habitats (the Brosna River and Sharavogue Bog).
“An 11-turbine wind farm is not simply a collection of turbines placed quietly in fields,” they remark. “It is in fact a major civil engineering project, involving extensive ground excavation, kilometres of internal roads, crane hardstands, deep concrete foundations, drainage works, cabling trenches, substations and compounds. The construction phase typically lasts up to 18 months, sometimes longer.”
The Group says there will also be significant visual impact, given the size of the structures proposed are approximately 185m (600ft) from ground to tip height. “There will be visual disturbance from miles away,” they remark.
The Group has the backing of the local Councillors. In a public meeting about the issue a couple of months ago, Cllr John Leahy, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council (OCC), said Cllr Peter Ormond was “strongly engaged” with the issue and had been in discussion with the executive of Offaly County Council about it. “Ballincor Wind Farm contradicts the zoning in our County Development Plan,” remarked Cllr Leahy. “The land is not deemed suitable and Offaly County Council will not be supporting it in any shape or form. You have the full weight of the Council, including the Councillors and the Executive, behind you in this matter. In effect, RWE has chosen to ignore the County Development Plan, and the Council doesn't take kindly to such an attitude.” The Greater Birr Wind Action Group says there are 220 houses within a 2 kilometre radius of the proposed Wind Farm. The Midland Tribune has also learned that a Wind Farm company has recently called to a number of houses in the Arbour Hill area, about 5 kilometres to the west of Birr, and there's a possibility now that another mega turbine development might be constructed in that particular area.