Development plan decision "a slap in the face for local democracy," says councillor

"A slap in the face for local democracy" was how a local councillor has described the decision by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to overturn some wind farm policies in the Donegal County Development Plan.

The news was relayed today (Wednesday) via the council's chief executive, John McLaughlin. He explained that the minister, Darragh O'Brien had issued a direction in relation to Variation No 2 of the council's County Development Plan with immediate effect.

It has proven a double-edged sword for the communities concerned with future wind farm development plans.

On the one hand, the minister agreed to the council's call for a number of policies to be retained. This means wind farm developments must not locate within the zone of visual influence of Glenveagh National Park; must not be located within the Gweebarra River Basin, areas contained within 'Especially High Scenic Amenity'; Freshwater pearl Mussel Catchments and St John's Point.

On the other, however, the councillor's call for the retention of the ten times tip height setback between homes and wind farms and change the designation of areas within the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District at risk of landslides and associated environmental and ecological concerns and 'moderately low and 'moderately high' landslide susceptibility areas identified as 'not normally permissible' are now 'open to consideration'.

Reacting to the news Sinn Féin's councillor Marie Therese Gallagher said they had made the initial changes in the best interests of the people of the county as a whole but the minister's decision not to respect that was a "slap in the face" for local democracy.

"A lot of campaigners and groups all over the county have spent lifetimes trying to ensure the right decision were reached for their communities, this direction only delivered half of what was required. It is a part-win for the community and a justification for their efforts.

"While it's not everything they wanted and in principle, the wrong thing for a minister to do, coming in over the heads of local government and deciding what's best for the county, at least some of our decision have been left the way we wanted them.

"I am disappointed however that he left in areas that are high risk of landslide open to consideration in the Lifford-Stranorlar MD. We wanted these to be closed to any consideration. If these ecological disasters happen in this county again there's only one person to blame and that's Minister O'Brien.

"If the same thing happens somewhere as happened in Meenbog and there are people are smothered in a house then we will know who to blame."

Cllr Gallagher said this directive now meant Donegal County Council will have to get proper research done on landslide susceptibility throughout the county.

"This is something that can't be ignored."

Cllr Gallagher added she would always be disappointed when a minister comes and overrules local government.

"It's a slap in the face for local democracy. We represent the voices of the ordinary people on the ground and their very real concerns. We as councillors are here to protect homes and families. I have seen disasters like the landslide at Meenbog outside Ballybofey and the way a blade flew 400 metres off a wind turbine at Maas outside Glenties.

The campaign was fought by some of the bravest people I know who devoted so much time and energy, often at their own cost. They might not have achieved everything but their work has paid off and many important issues decided thanks to them."

She added she was disappointed this news was released just before Christmas.

A spokesperson for the Finn Valley Wind Action Group said they would be monitoring the situation carefully and examining all documentation to see what their next course of action will be.