GONE WITH THE WIND: COUNCIL SPENDS €200K ON WIND FARM SURVEY
WEXFORD County Council has just spent over €200,000 on reports examining the impact noise at four wind farms in a small area of North Wexford, local councillor Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin has claimed.
The reports, done by RPS Consultants, were released yesterday, Monday, and Cllr Ó Súilleabháin said he has been informed the reports, which were done for planning and enforcement reasons, cost the Council over €200,000.
They were commissioned following some opposition to the wind farms at Gibbert Hill, Knocknalour, Ballynacoran and Ballycadden in North Wexford, due to noise.
‘It’s the most extensive wind farm survey ever taken in this country, and probably in Europe,’ said Fionntán. ‘It shocks me that such a vast sum of public money would be gone with the wind.’
‘It puts a massive hole in council finances - particularly for the environmental section of the council - a local authority that is already cash-starved by central government.’
‘I’m certain that its findings would be relevant to other county councils and to the Department of Environment,’ he added. ‘It’s absolutely crucial that Wexford County Council be heavily compensated for this by the Department of Environment.’
‘Wind farm developers should also have to foot the bill - not the public,’ he added. ‘ This has happened at some developments in England.’