PLANNING permission has been refused for the contentious eleven-turbine windfarm development in Oatfield with aviation safety at the centre of the decision to reject the plans.
An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) this week decided to refuse planning for the development which has garnered strong opposition across South-East Clare. It warned that the development posed “a significant risk” in aviation safety.
191 submissions were made against the plans from local residents and groups. The planning authority formally rejected the proposal, specifically citing compromised air safety, the impact on nearby aviation radar systems at Woodcock Hill, and significant visual impacts on local residential properties.
Ørsted had applied to build eleven turbines with a tip height of 180m in Oatfield, a rotor diameter height of 133m to 150m and a hub height range of 105m to 110m.
ACP in its report “considered that the proposed development will give rise to significant landscape and visual effects for a small number of local residential receptors in the immediate area to the south of the site”. The report found “that the proposed development will give rise to a significant risk to population and human health associated with a risk of major accident(s) as a result of significant, adverse and long-term effects on aviation safety”.
Risks to performance and degradation impacts on the monpulse secondary surveillance radar (MSSR) at Woodcock Hill and impacts on instrument flight procedures and navigational aids were also flagged in the decision.
The report warned of “a significant risk of major accident arising from potential degradation of existing surveillance radar and other aviation related operational impacts associated with significant, adverse and long-term effects on aviation safety. Based on the information on file, it is not considered possible to mitigate against the potential for significant aviation related impacts including through the imposition of a planning condition for such matters to be agreed at a later date”
In a statement to The Clare Echo, the Broadford to Oatfield Windfarm Action Group expressed their delight with the decision labelling it as “an excellent result for our community. A huge amount of voluntary work has gone into this campaign over the past number of years. We would like to sincerely thank everyone who made submissions, attended meetings, provided information, carried out research and supported the campaign. For the families living closest to the proposed development, and for the wider community that has lived with this uncertainty for years, today is a very welcome day. It also demonstrates the importance of local communities participating in the planning process and ensuring that the potential impacts of developments of this scale are properly scrutinised”.
Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) described the ruling as a victory for common sense and local safety. “This is a massive relief and a fantastic result for the communities of East Clare who have fought tirelessly to protect their local area. From the outset, I have consistently highlighted major concerns regarding aviation safety. The proposed 180-metre tall structures would have heavily compromised air safety and disrupted critical radar infrastructure at Woodcock Hill, Meelick. This was an entirely inappropriate location for a development of this scale, and I am glad to see the Commission validate these technical realities, it would be been reckless to ignore them”.
Deputy Crowe added, “I want to highly commend the Broadford to Oatfield Windfarm Action Group and all the local residents who put together very thorough and well-researched submissions. While we all understand the broader need for renewable energy, developments cannot be allowed to run roughshod over rural communities or compromise something so critical as air safety. This is a massive victory for East Clare and a testament to the power of community-led opposition”.
