Residents oppose plan for giant wind turbine

Residents oppose plan for giant wind turbine

25 April 2012 - by Ciara Colhoun

RESIDENTS of a rural area outside Ballynahinch have united to object to a proposal for a 40-metre hilltop wind turbine at Mullaghdrin Road East.

They are concerned that the proposed wind turbine, which will create electricity, will be a blight on the environment and are urging planners to reject the proposal.

Planners, who have been considering the application since late March, have already received 55 objections to the proposal and are awaiting responses from consultees before a decision on the application is made.

A spokeswoman for the Planning Service this week confirmed the receipt of the objections and said many centre on the proximity of the turbine to rural houses and the detrimental effect objectors fear it will have on the quality of life of the local population.

Objectors have also expressed concern about the visual impact and potential noise pollution of the wind turbine, which will have blades extending up to 55 meters, and its impact on wildlife.

Some have also queried the way in which machinery needed to build the turbine will access the site on the rural road network.

Among those to object to the scheme is Mr. Peter Allen, who is a resident of the area. He has joined a local residents’ group, which has been formed to lobby against the proposed wind turbine.

“As a resident of one of the roads bounding the site where the proposed development is to take place I believe it is totally inappropriate and detrimental to a well populated and pleasant rural area,” he said.

“The local residents of the area — there are at least 50 households within a half mile radius of the site — are extremely upset by this proposal and its potential effect both visual and aural.

“The overall height of the proposed turbine is 180ft and if the proposal gets a green light from the planners a precedent will be set which will encourage similar projects in the immediate vicinity standing starkly white on the skyline against a currently green background.

“A residents group has been working to make as many people as possible aware of the proposal’s existence and to assist in resisting approval by planners.”