Concerns over plans for ‘wind factory’

RESIDENTS in the Co Clare village of Coor have expressed concerns that communities in west Clare are being threatened with the area becoming one huge wind factory.

Earlier this year, McMahon Finn Acquisition Ltd lodged plans for a six-turbine 400 ft high wind farm near the village of Coor.

However, the plan is facing widespread opposition with over 40 objections lodged, including one from Birdwatch Ireland.

Labour TD Michael McNamara has also added his weight to the opposition, making a submission after meeting locals.

In their objection, Maurice Coyle and Sylvie Coyle state that the appealed development on Mount Callan, when added to the proposed development, will effectively join up the two developments.

They state: “With an existing 19 turbines, 78 more with planning granted and a further 12 proposed and 46 turbines pending, the west of Clare is being threatened with being seen as one huge “wind factory”.

They ask: “This surely cannot have been the aim of the Clare County Development Plan 2011-17?”