Officials handed 150 objections to Cork windfarm

About 150 objections to a proposed windfarm were yesterday handed to planning officials at Cork County Hall as part of a public protest by residents.

A petition of 300 signatures against the windfarm in Barnadivane and a document containing the community’s official objection to the project will be submitted to the authorities shortly.

The protest at County Hall by about 40 residents follows a community ‘walk of solidarity’ on Sunday.

Planning permission has been sought for the construction of six wind turbines, 131m high, in the rural area of West Cork, which lies between Coppeen and Terelton.

However, locals believe even more wind turbines are in the pipeline for the area, and have formed a support group to fight the planned development.

The Barna Action Group will be one of several anti-windfarm groups from around Munster which will travel to a major forum on the issue in North Cork this month

Barna Wind Action Group spokesman Michael O’Donovan said residents have wide-ranging concerns in relation to the proposed project, about which a decision is expected to be made by the planning authorities early next month. The development would directly affect communities living in Coppeen, Kilmurry, Terelton, and Newcestown, according to the group.