Westmeath Turbine Action Group invited local TDs to Leinster House presentation on industrial turbines 

North Westmeath Turbine Action Group NWTAG have accepted an invitation from Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley to make a cross party presentation in respect of the challenges presently facing communities who are fearful of the dangers posed by the construction of industrial wind turbines.

In attendance at the presentation, in Leinster House tomorrow, Thursday November 22 at 2pm, in the AV room, will be members of NWTAG who will be joined by groups that are fighting the erection of wind turbines in counties Longford and Offaly.

Welcoming the invitation, the chair of NWTAG, Jen Gallagher, said she hoped that TDs from Longford Westmeath and Meath West would make the effort to attend the meeting and listen to the genuine concerns of local people who are fearful of that their health and safety will be greatly impacted should the construction of the 175 metre turbines be allowed to proceed.

“Last year,” said Jen, “NWTAG organised a public meeting in Castlepollard and out of the seven TDs invited from Longford Westmeath and Meath West, four of whom confirmed their attendance in advance of the meeting, only one TD attended.

“So as the saying goes, if the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, then Mohammed has to go to the mountain, and we invite all our local representatives to attend the Leinster House presentation which will consist of three brief presentations from each of the groups and a question and answer session.

“We also encourage the community to contact their councillors and TDs and ask that they come to the Leinster House meeting and listen to why Element Power’s plans to construct turbines, that are over 60 stories high, will blight the landscape around Coole and Castlepollard for years to come.

“The fact that the presentation is in their workplace, on a Dáil sitting day, means local TDs have no excuse not to be present.

“An Bord Pleanála is considering the many submissions sent in my local people objecting to the Coole wind farm.

“A decision regarding the application was supposed to have been made in August but is still pending, and people want to know what is happening.

“The application to construct industrial turbines in cutaway bog between Coole and Clonsura still looms large meaning the health and safety of people expected to live close to these monstrous structures remains.

“As we approach next May’s local government elections and the possibility of a snap general election, those intending to stand need to be aware that NWTAG will challenge them on their track record, particularly their efforts to influence the government to introduce the long overdue guidelines that have been promised since 2013 and are supposed to give some form of protection to rural communities.

“For too long,” said Jen, “rural communities in the midlands have been ignored and their way of life threatened by a lack of investment that has resulted in poor or non existence broadband and mobile phone coverage, appalling public transport and the loss of essential services.

“If wind turbines that are three times the height of Mullingar cathedral are allowed to be constructed in north Westmeath it will result in the industrialisation of an unspoilt landscape which is one of Westmeath’s greatest assets, which if properly marketed could help build the county’s untapped tourist potential.

“It is now time for local TDs to step-up and support our efforts to stop the construction of industrial turbines in the Midlands and next week’s meeting in Leinster House will be an opportunity for them to sit down with their constituents and listen to their concerns and fears.”