DUNGARVAN
OBSERVER Vol. 104
Friday, 23rd & 30th December, 2016
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Go-ahead given for Drumhills wind farm
THINKING OF BUYING, SELLING OR LETTING? CONTACT SHERRY FITZGERALD REYNOLDS TODAY
By Paul Mooney
Please go to page 9 for further details
The wind farm, which was originally for 12 wind turbines (now reduced to eight wind turbines by An Bord Pleanála) will have a maximum tip height of 126 metres and are planned in the townlands of Knocknaglogh Lower, Barranastook Upper, Knocknamona, Woodhouse, Tinakilly, Monageela and Killatoor, in the Drum Hills, near Dungarvan. The development is to include an 80 metre meteorological mast with wind measuring equipment attached, access roads, electrical substation compound, equipment and control building and ancillary site works. Connection to the national grid from the proposed wind farm is expected to be at the existing Dungarvan 110 kV substation in Kiladangan, approximately six kilometres to the North East. The application was proposed by Kilkenny-based wind energy company Ecopower Developments Limited. The proposed development drew a lot of anger from local people living in or near those townlands, which resulted in several public meetings being called to allow residents to voice their anger and opposition to the wind farm. The planning application to Waterford Council also drew
A Happy and Peaceful Christmas and Prosperous New Year to all our Readers, Subscribers, Advertisers & Friends
Our Offices at Shandon, Dungarvan, will be closed from 5.00 p.m. on Thursday, 22nd December, 2016, to 9.00 a.m. on Monday, 2nd January, 2017. There will be NO ISSUE of the Dungarvan Observer on Wednesday, 28th December, 2016. The next issue will be published on Wednesday, 4th January, 2017. 51
A CONTROVERSIAL wind farm proposed for the Drumhills near Dungarvan, which was initially refused by Waterford Council, has been granted permission by An Bord Pleanála by a majority of three to two.
278 submissions. The planning authority of Waterford Council refused permission for the wind farm, citing it was “not satisfied the development would not have significant adverse impacts on the environment, specific built heritage assets and associated tourism; impacts on residential properties along haulage routes and fabric of the public road; impacts of existing and proposed wind energy developments and associated grid connections on landscape and visual amenity; noise, with regard to recreational and residential amenity; and property values in the immediate vicinity; and continued public access during the construction phase of the development”. The Council stated that notwithstanding the location of the site within a ‘Strategic Area’ for wind energy in the County Development Plan, the proposed development would detract from the visual and rural landscape amenity of the area. Ecopower Developments Ltd., appealed the Council’s refusal of permission on 20th December, 2014, along with three appeals from Michael and Giancarla Alen-Buckley, of Strancally Castle, Knockanore; Blackwater Valley Alliance, care of Robbyn Swan, Dromore, Aglish; and John and Niamh Reynolds, Kereen, Villierstown and 35 observations by other individuals. Since then, the communities and residents who will be affected by the proposed development have been waiting for An Bord Pleanála to make a decision on the case. Continued on page 17
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Aglish students win county award in national school art competition GRACE Heyburn and Taylor O’Brien from Ms. Tracey Fennell’s Sixth Class at Aglish National School, who won the Senior County Primary Schools title in the ‘Someone Like Me’ art competition. They are being presented with their award by Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability Issues, Finian McGrath T.D. The aim of the Competition, which is sponsored by the Department of Justice and Equality, is to develop children’s understanding and awareness of disabilities, and to celebrate the things that make them and their classmates unique.
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