Trainer Weld in planning row with ESB over wires
Celebrated horse handler lodges appeal over Curragh power lines
WELL KNOWN horse trainer Dermot Weld has become embroiled in a row with the ESB over plans to erect wires across the lands of his stud farm.
Mr Weld has lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála against the recent decision of Kildare County Council to grant planning permission for the construction of a new 38kV electricity circuit between existing ESB substations in Kildare and Newbridge.
The plans provide for a circuit of 8.5km of power lines, of which 7km will be overhead wires requiring the erection of 48 poles together
‘Should be undergrounded’
with 1.5km of underground cable.
Consultants acting for the trainer said Mr Weld was not opposed to the development of the new circuit but that he considers its location to be ‘wholly inappropriate’ as the power lines will traverse his horse training operation at Rathbridge Stud Farm in the Curragh.
They pointed out that there is already a 110kV overhead power line which passes through Mr Weld’s lands. ‘The proposed 38kV line should be undergrounded or rerouted away from this stud farm,’ the consultants argued.
They added: ‘Mr Weld has serious concerns for the welfare of his horses arising from a second electricity line running through his stud farm.’ The trainer noted that thoroughbred horses graze in the field where the proposed electricity lines are due to be erected. In a submission to An Bord Pleanála, Mr Weld claims the local authority did not consider the potential impact of the new electricity wires on a key equine business at the edge of the Curragh given the promotion of the equine industry is a major objective of the Kildare County Development Plan. Planning files show Mr Weld is described as ‘one of Ireland’s most successful racehorse trainers’ with over 4,000 winners worldwide as well as being a qualified vet and former amateur champion jockey. The trainer, who has been based on the Curragh for over 40 years, has a total of 96 stables on his 150-acre stud farm.
Mr Weld’s consultants observed that the ESB’s plans involve the erection of a double wooden pole set on their client’s property but they had received no information about the exact ‘land take’ involved. They complained that it was ‘wholly unsatisfactory’ that although Mr Weld was contacted by the ESB about the proposed development at the end of 2022, he had no further correspondence from the State electricity company that it had lodged a planning application for the new power lines. The consultants also claimed
Kildare County Council did not address issues raised by Mr Weld about why undergrounding or a rerouting of the overhead lines was not considered.
They said council planners had left the trainer ‘largely in the dark’ as to the reasons why his points were not accepted.
They also said it appeared that there were limited site notices erected about the ESB’s planning application with the possibility that some affected landowners were not aware of the proposed development.
Mr Weld claimed he only became aware ‘by chance’ of the application after there had been a request for further information about the project.
He also maintains that the ESB had not properly justified why the power lines cannot be rerouted north of the Curragh in less sensitive landscape areas.
The trainer also took issue with the finding by council planners that there is no real likelihood of the electricity wires having significant effects on the environment.
Kildare County Council concluded that the proposed power lines would not be particularly intrusive while the proposed route was ‘not inappropriate’.
A ruling by An Bord Pleanála on the appeal by Mr Weld is due by mid-June.
Sensitive landscape areas