PLANNING PERMISSION HAS BEEN GRANTED FOR A WINDFARM DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE KILTIMAGH, DESPITE A LARGE NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS FROM LANDOWNERS AND RESIDENTS CLOSE TO THE SITE AT TREEN-AG-LER-AGH.

FOUR TURBINES ARE TO BE BUILT ON THE 50 HECTARE SITE, WHICH IS COMPRISED MAINLY OF BLANKET BOG.

THE GRANT OF PERMISSION FROM MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL COMES DESPITE SIGNIFICANT LOCAL CONCERNS.

THE DEVELOPERS BEHIND THE PROJECT ARE MAZZURI LTD, WHO HAVE AN ADDRESS IN GALWAY.

THEY SOUGHT PERMISSION LAST YEAR TO DEVELOP THE SITE AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WAS SUBMITTED TO PLANNERS AT MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL.

THAT 114 PAGE DOCUMENT DEALS WITH THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF THE TURBINES ON TRAFFIC, TOURISM, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND NATURAL FLORA AND FAUNA. IT ALSO OUTLINES MEASURES TO LIMIT ANY DAMAGE TO ANY OF THESE.

DESPITE ALL OF THESE PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES, EIGHT OBJECTIONS WERE MADE AGAINST THE PROJECT – AND MOST OF THOSE HAVE SIGNATURES OF 10 TO 20 NAMES FROM LANDOWNERS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS.

CONCERNS RANGED FROM THE LOSS OF PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO CUT TURF IN THE AREA; TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ‘SHADOW FLICKER’ FROM THE TURBINES.

SOME OBJECTORS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT A LANDSLIDE – LIKE THAT AT DERRYBRIEN IN 2003 – BEING A POSSIBLE RISK; WHILE OTHERS SAID THAT A BAT SURVEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT, AS WELL AS MORE DETAILED STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF THE WINDFARM ON AN ANCIENT BOG SITE.

THE COUNCIL REQUESTED A LOT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE DEVELOPERS, AND HAS NOW GRANTED CONDITIONAL PLANNING PERMISSION.

28 CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN ATTACHED.

THE TURBINES CAN’T BE HIGHER THAN 81 METRES, AND ALL OF THE MEASURES OUTLINES IN THE EIS MUST BE IMPLEMENTED TO LIMIT ENVIRIONMENTAL DAMAGE.

THE DEVELOPERS MUST ALSO AGREE AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL, AND HAVE THEIR WORK MONITORED BY A QUALIFIED ECOLOGIST IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

THE TURBINES WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE MONITORED FOR EXCESSIVE NOISE AND ANY IMPACT ON RADIO TRANSMISSIONS IN THE AREA.

IT’S NOT KNOW, AT THIS POINT, IF PLANNING PERMISSION FOR THE WINDFARM WILL BE APPEALED.