This article is from page 5 of the 2012-01-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
WEST Clare locals appear to be split on a proposal to construct one of Ireland’s largest ever wind energy farms in Doonbeg, with a number of local submissions, both for and against, being lodged with An Bord Pleanála. The proposal would see the construction of 45 wind turbines at Shragh near Doonbeg, in an area where 13 turbines have been constructed or have been granted permission for construction.
If constructed, the € 200 million wind farm will see turbines reaching 400 feet tall, more than half the height of the Cliffs of Moher. While some concerns have been raised about the scale of the farm, it has also been argued that the development will be a major economic boost for the area, with more than 100 jobs being created in the construction phase while 79 local farmers and landowners are set to benefit from annual rental payments from West Coastal Wind Power Ltd, the company developing the farm.
One of the main objectors to the project is the Friends of the Environment organisation, who say that the development would be the largest of its kind in Ireland if it gets the goahead. They also accused the developers of using the bait of big financial pay-outs to landowners to split the local community on the issue.
“The proposed very large wind farm is an inappropriate development as it will have a significant adverse visual impact on the landscape, ecology and on rare and protected species, with an adverse effect on tourism and the local economy,” said Tony Lowes of Friends of the Environment. “Because of the substantial payments involved to participating landowners, developers can split rural communities with long-term social consequences.”
In their submission, the Friends of the Environment also claim that the developments on both the Tullaher Loop and the Doonbeg Loop walking routes have been developed in the area in recent years.
Other groups to lodge submissions on the plan include Birdwatch Ireland, the Department of Heritage and Fáilte Ireland, who have raised concern over what they describe as the “industrial scale” of the proposed development.