Applause as Limerick councillors vote to amend wind farm planning rules

APPLAUSE could be heard at the end of a special sitting of Limerick City and County Council, as a group of campaigners celebrated the passing of a motion that aims to improve public health standards around wind farms in Limerick.

The motion to begin the process to amend the Limerick Development Plan received widespread support from councillors.

It was brought forward to create higher standards for developers seeking planning approval for wind farms, particularly mentioning guidelines by the World Health Organisation regarding environmental noise guidelines.

The amendment will now be subject to a Mayor’s Report, which elected representatives were told will come before them for consideration in the coming weeks.

During the meeting, Councillor Gregory Conway read out a letter he had received from a family with two children.

The letter said that the family were opposed to An Coimisiún Pleanála’s recent decision to grant planning permission to Ballinlee Wind Farm for 12 wind turbines, with the original plan being for 17. When constructed, the nearest wind turbine will be 652 metres away from the family’s home.

They claimed that the local community faces “relentless worry, anxiety, and uncertainty” over the decision.

Many of the concerns raised by the letter, and wider community groups, surround potential health issues arising from living close to wind turbines. The shadows of the blades and the noise produced by the turbines can cause sleep disturbance, which can lead to a number of other issues, according to campaigners.

Throughout the meeting, it was mentioned that previous wind farm applications were careful not to disturb local swan and bat colonies, but councillors say that the same concern isn’t there for humans.

Councillor Liam Galvin said he was “sick of hearing about bats and bees and birds.”

“Let’s look after our children,” he added.

A spokesperson for the community groups behind the campaign said: “It has taken two years to officially commence this Variation, but today's decision is an important one. Limerick's councillors have put a great deal of time and work into getting it to this stage.

“The proposed Variation is an opportunity to introduce a much-needed public-health standard into the development of industrial wind turbines in rural Ireland. We welcome the decision, and we will be looking to see it completed without further delay."

Both councillors and members of the community noted that they are not against wind farms or renewable energy in general, but they believe further restrictions are needed to prevent potential disturbances to those living near turbines.

Concerns were raised over the impact these developments may have on house pricing and planning applications in areas where wind turbines are established.

“We cannot talk about protecting public health in five months' time while ignoring the people who are already living beside these turbines,” the spokesperson said, “The noise conditions some residents are experiencing are wrong, and they deserve to have their complaints properly investigated.”