Major opposition, grave concerns and extreme anger has irrupted, due to a planning application for a wind-farm on the outskirts of Thurles town, at townlands of Brittas, Rossestown, Ballygammane and Clobanna.
The planning application provides for 10 to 12 X 185m high turbines, together with an accompanying battery farm, latter to store electricity, same to be generated by this proposed project.
These turbines to be erected, we understand, reach some 170 metres (590 feet) in height, (e.g. five times the height of Thurles Cathedral), and would introduce a massive invasion of towering infrastructure overlooking the town and surrounding countryside.
The proposed wind turbines are expected to generate/export at least 60 million watts, if erected in the nearby townlands of Brittas, Rossestown and Clobanna, all situated less than a 5 to 10 minute drive north of Thurles town. We understand that the plans include an underground cable connection to the national electricity grid.
The now launched Brittas Wind Farm and Ballygammane Battery Farm Action Group have begun an online campaign in their effort to fundraise some €10,000, same required to oppose this planning, now ruled as a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) by An Bord Pleanála.
In May of last year the planning appeals board ruled that the Brittas wind farm project constituted a Strategic Infrastructure Development, requiring Brittas Windfarm Limited, to submit their plans directly to An Bord Pleanála.
The newly formed Brittas and Ballygammane action group held a public protest meeting on Wednesday last, January 15th, at which it was agreed that a target of €10,000 could be reached if 100 individuals donated €100. Within the last 10 days, the action group, has already generated over €5,270 in donations and further donations of even small amounts will be greatly appreciated. Funds collected will be strictly used towards paying consultants to make the town’s case to An Bord Pleanála, thus bringing a halt to this threat of a wind farm development and its associated battery storage farm.
Concerns were expressed at the meeting, regarding the downgrading of local property values, construction disruption, visual impact, noise, flicker impact and the immediate obvious repercussion on this area’s environment.
At the protest meeting there was also a major concern expressed that a battery farm, of some 48 battery storage units, now proposed for the Ballygammane townland, could go on fire; with the impact of this on Thurles and surrounding villages visualised as being immense, while this project financially benefits only a few individuals.
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