DUNGARVAN
Vol. 107
OBSERVER Friday, 24th May, 2019 21
WATERFORD Council is trying to “pool together” a number of different schemes to submit to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for funding. The move comes as the Council struggles to meet the demand for maintenance and repair of its housing stock, particularly retrofitting of windows and doors across older estates. Housing Technician Derek Lyons told May’s DungarvanLismore Municipal District meeting that the Council had implemented SEAI schemes so
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ELECTION CAMPAIGN SPECIAL
Council struggles to meet demand for housing repairs By Christy Parker
SOUTH-EAST
successfully in recent years that the SEAI was more inclined now to give priority to other counties. LEAKING DOORS The Technician was responding to concerns raised by Cllr. Siobhán Whelan that doors and windows on Childers Estate, Dungarvan, were leaking, with some residents having to deploy towels and sheets to absorb moisture. “A lot of people have just taped up the windows,” she informed. “People are fed up with it. We talked about trying to save fuel and environmental issues and then we have this!” c Continued on page 14
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‘Hospice Heroes’ - Father and son, Arthur and Jordan Curry, from Ballyduff Lower, County Waterford, who were honoured as Waterford ‘Hospice Heroes’ at a special ceremony in Dublin recently, ahead of Hospice Sunflower Days, which takes place on Friday, 7th June and Saturday 8th June 2019. (www.sunflowerdays.ie). Included in the photograph are: Teresa Barrett, Waterford Hospice, and Mary Kennedy, Hospice Sunflower Days Ambassador and RTE Broadcaster, presenting Arthur and Jordan Curry with their plaques. Arthur and Jordan organised the ‘Home to Rome’ fundraiser last year to support Waterford Hospice and in memory of Arthur’s mother, who passed away in January, 2017. The ‘Home to Rome’ charity event involved the father and son team cycling 3,000 km from their home in Ballyduff Lower to Italy, travelling through 12 countries and raising over €20,000 for the Hospice.
CONCERNS OVER COPPER COAST SOLAR FARM A LARGE number of residents from around the Copper Coast communities attended a public meeting held in Stradbally last Friday over concerns about a proposed solar farm for the area. The meeting, which was held in Barron Hall, was organised by ‘Neighbours Concerned about Solar Farms’. The group has already expressed reservations about the proposed development, which it says is the largest solar farm proposed in Ireland.
Highfield Solar Ltd., has applied to Waterford Council for permission to build a 270 acre (109 hectares) solar farm in the townlands of Rathnaskillogue, Glen West and Curraheen, Stradbally. Three landowners in those areas are on record having given written consent for Highfield Solar applying for permission to develop a solar farm on their lands. A pre-application Consultation Request has also been lodged with An
Bord Pleanála, with a view to construct a new 110 Kv substation to service the 270 acres of solar panels. Ann Troy, local resident in the Copper Coast area and Independent candidate in the upcoming Local Elections said people of the area “are astounded to the news that there are plans once again” to industrialise rural communities in the Copper Coast with a large scale commercial development. “There were serious issues discussed
at the meeting in Stradbally last Friday, including the visual, physical, and mental health issues associated with these types of projects,” said Ms.Troy, speaking to the Dungarvan Observer. “Questions were also raised as to the negative impact on over 100 homes identified by Highfield Solar as being subjected to glint and glare,” she said. “Many residents are seriously worried about the impact this proposal would have on the effect in their homes and the
area in general. The sight and scale of 270 acres under mirrored glass would be a living hell for people in the townlands and areas unfortunate to be included in the plan. “On a wider scale in our community, and as outlined on proposals presented by Highfield Solar, the panels can and will be seen from the Mahon Falls and sections of the Greenway,” Ms. Troy warned. c Continued on page 14