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Solicitor joins An Taisce in wind farm objection
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Heritage body An Taisce has appealed a decision by Kerry County Council to grant permission for another wind farm near Kilgarvan.
Kerry Wind Power Ltd applied for permission last year to build 42 wind turbines in the south Derrysaggart Mountains, at a location 5km south east of Kilgarvan and 15km from Kenmare.
Each turbine will be up to 85m high with rotor diameters of 72m. The planning application provided for a wind farm that would extend across 817ha over property at Kilfadda More, Barnastooka, Redtrench South, Coolnagoppoge and Gortlahard.
Kerr County Council granted permission for 25 of the wind turbines but refused permission for the other 18. The council also attached a number of conditions to the development.
In a submission to the council, An Taisce said it did not oppose the wind farm in principal but that the size and location was cause for concern.
“The photo montages submitted with the application show clearly that some of the turbines would be visible from a number of tourist routes. They would be particularly intrusive when viewed from sections of the R569 and the portion of the Kilgarvan to Bantry Road,” An Taisce said.
Two local residents also objected to the wind farm saying the proposed development would visually degrade an area which “is as beautiful as anything to be found in the environs of Killarney.”
Killarney-based solicitor John O’Con-nell also objected to the plan saying he would question the value of the wind farm in terms of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, in comparison with its visual impact on the landscape.
The Mountaineering Council of Ireland made a submission stating that the area has an outstanding landscape quality with notable tourism value.
Kerry Wind Power Ltd said that a minimum of 25 people would be employed during the construction phase with up to three people required to continually maintain the turbines, which would operated 24 hours a day except in calm weather or strong storms.
Existing wind farms in the Kilgarvan area have proved controversial in the past with locals complaining that both the natural scenery has been damaged and that television reception in the area has also been seriously affected.
An Bord Plean·la said it will reach a decision by January of next year.
By: Alan Healy
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