Application lodged for controversial north Mayo windfarm
RWE Renewables lodge application with An Coimisiun Pleanála for 13 turbine windfarm in Erris
An application for planning permission has officially been lodged with An Coimisiun Pleanála for the development of a controversial 13-turbine windfarm in north Mayo.
RWE Renewables Ireland lodged the application for a Strategic Infrastructure Development to construct a renewable energy development consisting of a 13 turbine wind farm with an associated 110 kV substation.
The Muingmore Project is proposed to be located on 454 hectares of bogland located in various townlands approximately 11km west of Bangor Erris and approximately 4km north of Geesala.
The planning statement for the application stated that the windfarm will have a 35 year timeframe from when it is fully commissioned and the energy output from the windfarm will be between 74.1 and 91 MW depending on the final choice of turbine model.
The location of the project has been criticised by tourism and business groups in the Erris region who claim that the wind turbines which will reach a height of 180 metres to the blade tip will affect every person and business in the Erris region.
A report on the effects of the proposed development on the landscape and visual commissioned by the applicant stated that while the proposed project will generate some 'residual high ranging landscape and visual effects, principally at the nearest surrounding receptors, these have all been assessed as not significant in the context of the EIA Regulations'.
The Belmullet tourism group, visitbelmullet.ie is among the groups who have called on members of the public to make submissions to An Coimisiún Pleanala opposing the development.
“At almost 180 metres high, these turbines would be visible across large parts of Erris including homes, bogland, coastline, lakes, roads, villages and scenic areas,” the group wrote on their Facebook page.
Local councillors also questioned the competence of the developers after it emerged that a planning notice for the development was erected on an ESB pole close to a 'Danger Keep Away' warning sign.
Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle who lives close to the proposed windfarm raised the matter at the meeting where he showed a photo of the sign to other members of the council.
“These are the people who are supposed to be protecting our environment but they have no care for their own workers or the environment or anyone. That is an electricity pole which you are not supposed to tie or nail anything to but there it is...danger keep away is that clear enough,” he said.
Cllr Coyle, who has criticised the number of windfarms proposed for the Erris region, questioned how companies are able to get planning permission when people have to prove local links to the area in order to build a house.
He also asked council officials if the tourism section of Mayo County Council will be making a submission regarding the development.
“Will the tourism office be making a report on these windmills in the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. We are doing our bit for tourism and want to see the council do their bit,” he said.
Belmullet-based councillor Seán Carey was also critical of the company for blatantly ignoring the warning signs on the pole.
“When you see an organisation like that who have been chosen to do a big project like this and they are not even adhering to the [danger] sign in front of them it is hard to have confidence in them in any project they are involved in if they are starting like that. They are blatantly ignoring the warning that is there and it is hard to have confidence if they are going on like that,” he said.
An Coimisiún Pleanála indicated that it will take up to 12 months before a decision is made on the Muingmore Project application.