Munnelly expresses concern over ‘uncontrolled wind development’ in North Mayo

FINE Gael county councillor Jarlath Munnelly has said ‘uncontrolled wind development’ should not be allowed to persist in North Mayo.

Cllr Munnelly said wind farm developers should be subject to the same scrutiny as those seeking planning permission for houses.

He said that areas with ‘protected views’ were ‘a serious barrier to people who are trying to build a house in those areas’, arguing that the same scrutiny should apply to wind development.

The Killala native has voiced concern over the visual impact from the proposed installation of 22 180-metre-high wind turbines, some of which will be visible from Downpatrick Head.

Glenora Windfarm will cover nine different townlands along the North Mayo coast and aims to generate 158.4MW of power (7.2MW capacity per turbine).

It is intended to connect the proposed development to the national electricity grid via a 110kV underground cable.

Glenora Wind Farm has applied directly to An Bord Pleanála for planning permission to develop the wind farm.

The development is expected to have a 35-year lifespan.

Amendment needed

SPEAKING at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council, Cllr Munnelly said that planning guidelines needed to be amended to protect the visual amenity of affected areas.

Plans are currently being advanced to develop a coastal walk between Céide and Downpatrick Head. A car park is also being developed at Downpatrick Head, which Cllr Munnelly described as an area of ‘high scenic amenity’.

“We’ve invested an awful lot in this area, and we cannot ruin that area by uncontrolled wind development,” he commented.

Cllr Munnelly said that Mayo County Council is ‘seriously out of date’ with its renewable energy strategy.

He called on the council to write to Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan, ‘as a matter of urgency’ to put new guidelines in place for wind energy.

He added that there were several similar proposed wind energy projects that were causing anxiety among communities in North Mayo.

“I think that these sorts of projects, although they have their place, they need to get the utmost scrutiny,” said Cllr Munnelly, who noted that there had been ‘good engagement’ with local communities regarding Glenora Windfarm heretofore.

Geesala-based county councillor Gerry Coyle said communities needed to obtain the benefit of energy projects.

The Fine Gael councillor said the number of power outages that had been occurring in Erris since the installation of windmills was ‘absolutely scandalous’.

“The people are getting very fed up. Everybody wants the energy, everybody wants the different things, but it’s all being exported away from Erris,” said Cllr Coyle.

Catherine McConnell, Mayo County Council’s Director of Services for Planning, said that a council report on the Glenora Windfarm outlined various conditions for the development.

The report outlines 51 conditions in total, including provision relating to the archaeology and visual amenity of the area and the setting up of a community benefit fund for local projects.

Ms McConnell said Mayo County Council was currently planning to develop a new renewable energy strategy.

She expected that a draft document would be available before the end of Quarter 2 of 2024.