Nature park instead of wind farm
WIND FARM BID FOR BÓRD PLEANÁLA STRONGLY OPPOSED BY LOCAL GROUPS AND COUNCILLORS
AN alliance of community groups across North Cork are proposing to turn the area around the Nagle Mountains into a nature park as part of their effort to oppose a plan to erect a farm of giant windmills on the terrain.
The proposal to transform the area into a nature park emerged this week as councillors voiced their strong opposition to a plan by Coillte and Brookfield Renewable Energy Ireland to build the Coom Wind Farm comprising 22 turbines measuring 169m at their highest point.
The Coom Wind Energy Park was under discussion at Monday’s meeting of Cork County Council as it has been deemed a Strategic Infrasture Development and the view of the councillors’ was being sought for the Council’s submission on the project for An Bórd Pleanála. The national planning authority will adjudicate whether or not Coom Wind Energy Park should get approval to proceed.
The alliance of local community councils opposing the wind farm plan is called Nagle View Turbine Aware. NVTA Nagle View Turbine Aware (NVTA), was established to oppose proposals from Brookfield Renewable Ireland and Coillte to develop an industrial wind farm and battery storage facility near the Bottlehill and Glannasack areas of Co. Cork.
NVTA represents locals from Carrignavar, Mourneabbey, Bottlehill, Glenville, Killavullen, Whitechurch and Grenagh who will be directly affected by this project should it go ahead.
Last week the group gathered more than 380 submissions each with a €50 fee and delivered it to An Bórd Pleanála.
They are opposing the development for a range of reasons - including ecological as the area is home to a number of species such as the Hen Harrier with EU protection; the visual impact of turbines which are two and a half times the size of County Hall; and the health implications for families of the low frequency noise generated by the wind turbines, an effect which NVTA say has devastated families across north Cork close to other wind turbines.
The proposal to develop a nature park in the area, which includes the Bottle Hill site for which Cork County Councilhad planned a massive landfill dump, a plan which was derailed following local opposition, has been developed in order to provide an alternative use for the land in question, an area in which local wildlife can live in harmony and which would provide an amenity for locals and visitors alike.