Sliabh Luachra windfarm meeting is on tonight

SLIABH Luachra Windfarm Awareness Group (SLWAG) will tonight hold its second local information meeting tonight to discuss plans to construct 14 wind turbines in seven townlands in the Sliabh Luachra area.

The group organised the meetings for following a recent decision by Kerry County Council to refuse Silverbirch Renewables Limited planning permission to build the 150-metre-tall turbines across 15 landholdings in Ballynahulla, Barna, Knocknageeha, Lisheen, Reanasup, Reaboy, and Tooreenagarriv.

While the group welcomed the KCC decision, the applicant can still appeal to An Bord Pleanála if they so wish, and for that reason group member Thomas Fitzpatrick said SLWAG’s campaign will not lose momentum.

“Our campaign will continue, and we’ve delivered over 1,000 letters to houses in the area since the KCC decision came through to keep the momentum going” he said.

“We’re having a meeting in Teach Fáilte in Gneeveguilla on June 8 (tonight) following the meeting in Ballydesmond, and we’d encourage everyone, even people that wouldn’t be near the turbines, to call in,” he said.

The local authority said a development of the scale of the one proposed by Silverbirch Renewables Limited would create a significant visual intrusion and impact on the character of the landscape. The planning authority also said it was not satisfied that the proposed development would not cause pollution of local watercourses, and expressed concern that the development would cause the loss of the hen harrier hunting habitat.

Mr Fitzpatrick said there had been 60 objections to the proposal along with a group objection holding over 180 signatures.

Contributors at the meetings will address concerns over matters such as environmental issues, health issues, and proximity of proposed turbines to homes, and Mr Fitzpatrick added that a map will be displayed to illustrate to people where the wind turbines would be located.

The evening will also feature video presentation relating to life living near windfarms, as Mr Fitzpatrick said around 180 houses in Gneeveguilla, Ballydesmond, and Ballydesmond Village would be within a kilometre of turbines if the development proceeded.

A comment was sought from Silverbirch Renewables Ltd but at the time of going to print, it was not furnished.