‘Enough is enough’ says conservation group fighting wind farm development

Enough is enough.

That's the message this week from the Gweebarra Conservation Group to those involved with allowing or promoting industrial-scale wind turbine developments in Donegal.

The group was responding to the Ministerial Directive on wind energy issued to Donegal County Council by Minister Darragh O'Brian last week a spokesperson for the Gweebarra Conservation Group indicated the battle was far from over.

"We welcome the fact that the Minister did not overturn Donegal Council's decision to exclude a number of areas from permissible to industrial wind turbines, including what the Directive describes as the 'Gweebarra River Basin', but protecting our rivers, our beauty spots and our wildlife is the only lawful thing to do under both Irish and European law.

"Let every other county endure as much as Donegal has done as far as industrial wind is concerned. Enough is enough. 

"We are expecting Ørsted, Coillte and the ESB, aka FuturEnergy Ireland and their Cork-based holding company Cloghercor Wind Farm Ltd, to apply for planning permission to An Bord Pleanála in Dublin soon. However, with Minister Darragh Ó Brian rushing two new Planning Bills through the Dáil it suits the wind industry to wait until after the Dáil comes back from recess as the new Bills will prevent residents' groups or environmental groups from taking a Judicial Review should they object to a decision by An Bord Pleanála. Then only individuals will be able to take a case to the High Court to prevent development in their area.

"The group spokesperson claimed that this is a blatant case of ignoring the Aarhus Convention on the rights of people to participate in the decision-making on matters affecting their environment.

"The Minister did not respect the council's decision to not allow wind turbines in areas susceptible to landslides - that is just beyond belief. It's as if Meenbog never happened at all."

"It remains to be seen if the wind companies persist in making planning applications for wind turbines on peat bogs and adjacent to our precious rivers in Donegal.

"They will be resisted if they do. People have a right to say what they want in their area and they definitely do not want to expose themselves, their farm animals or our wildlife to the ill-health issues associated with wind turbines."

The Gweebarra Conservation Group spokesperson added they also wanted to thank the local councillors in the Glenties Municipal District for their continued support for sustainable environmental planning. 

"We have to endorse everything Councillor Marie-These Gallagher said in last week's Donegal Democrat. It's up to the councillors now to respond to the Ministerial Directive at the next council meeting. The question of the erosion of local government is a crucial one."

Gweebarra Conservation Group are hosting a public meeting in the Leitirmacaward Hall beside St. Bridget's Church at 8pm on Saturday, January 7. They have appealed to anyone in any part of the county or beyond who is interested in the industrial scale of the development of wind farms to come along and have their say. Everyone welcome.