Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to express my opinion in regard to your Draft Development Plan and in particular to your Wind Energy Development Strategy.
In my Pre Draft submission I spoke of the negative impact that a Wind Energy Facility would have on my local area i.e. the village of Tullaghought in South Kilkenny and the surrounding hills of Kilmacoliver, Blackbog, Baunreagh, Windgap and Frankfort.
I note that your mapping system has evolved from the previous Plan and I find that your new proposed zoning satisfies my concerns. I would hope that the proposals will be adopted without change for my local area.
I am enclosing my original submission to the Pre Draft stage for your benefit.
On reading the pre Draft Document another concern has arisen.
This is in regard to The National TransmissionlDistribution Network and in particular the Gridlink 400kv project linking Kildare to Cork via Wexford.
I would hope that while facilitating this project the Kilkenny Development Plan would provide protection for its natural amenities and protected areas.
For example an area which is deemed unsuitable for Wind Turbines due to protected views, heritage and natural amenities must also be unsuitable for large electricity pylons.
I trust that this issue will be addressed in the final Development Plan.
Thanking You,
Richard Walsh
Submission on Development Plan (Pre-draft)
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to express my opinion in regard to your Development Plan and in particular to your Wind Energy Development Strategy. Having attended your public meeting in Graiguenamanagh covering Renewable Energy I have a number of observations to make.
Firstly although the meeting was open to participants throughout the whole County most of the attendance appeared to be from the Graiguenamanagh area. As there appears to be a strong desire for the construction of a Wind Farm in this area there were strong and somewhat unbalanced arguments made in favor of altering the present County guidelines.
As I am not familiar with the area or indeed the proposed site I will not comment on this other than to say that it would be wrong to alter the complete Wind Energy Development Strategy Map just to facilitate this area. I would also point out that the present zoning is not governed by wind speeds alone but also takes into consideration many other criteria.
In my submission to the 2008-2014 Plan I spoke of the negative impact that a Wind Energy Facility would have on my local area i.e. the village ofTullaghought in South Kilkenny and the surrounding hills of Kilmacoliver, Blackbog, Baunreagh, Windgap and Frankfort. This area rich in heritage from the high crosses in Ahenny, Killamery and Kilkieran to the megalithic solstice tombs in Knockroe, the ancient burial ground on Kilmacoliver hill, the beautiful Grotto Walk in Windgap and the Ogham stones in Lamogue Churchyard. Combined with the natural beauty of the countryside is an area with massive tourist potential. The potential to grow tourism in this area has been further enhanced with the recent discovery of the ancestral home of the American actor George Clooney in the village of Knockeen.
While the present Wind Energy Development Strategy Map protects the Tullahought area zoning it not normally permissible the hills overlooking the area are not given the same protection. The towns lands concerned are Blackbog, Boolyglass, Ballinteskin, Bamadown, Carrigetna, Brownstown, Newchurch, Raheenarran and Ballygown, they are in the open/or consideration category. I am of the opinion that this area should be included in the not normally permissible category.
The townsland of Raheenarran is the location of a Moated House Site, which is protected under the Monuments Act and is also covered by a preservation order. These details are contained in the Environmental Report of the 2008-2014 Draft Development Plan. (Table 3.7 & 3.8 page 35)
In close proximity to the area open for consideration are the Ogham stones in Lamogue Churchyard, the last visible remains of a pre Christian era. Lamogue is also believed to have been the site of a large monastic settlement. Combined with the High Crosses in Killamery, Kilkieran and Ahenny this is an area of great significance in early Christian Ireland. The O.P.W. has commissioned a conservation plan for the High Crosses which is being launched in Tullahought Community Centre during Heritage Week.
Already protected in the current Development Plan are the views (A18 appendix F West into County Tippeerary on Kilmacoliver / Skeough road No. LS5097 in the Kilkenny Development Plan). Which is listed as a view to be preserved and protected. Also designated as high amenity in the current plan is the upland area directly above the Lingaun Valley surrounding the heritage village of Tullaghought (appendix E; 9: area at Tipperary border bounded by roads Nos. 364, 363, 346, 488 and 489). Surely the same protection should be given to Blackbog hill which has the same views from a higher perspective.
In December 2006 the South Tipperary County Council protected the area surrounding Ahenny from the development of Wind Turbines. It is imperative that Kilkenny County Council gives the Kilkenny side of the Lingaun Valley the same protection.
Nestled underneath Corrigadoon hill in Knockroe County Kilkenny lies the Caiseal a Megalithic Passage Tomb similar to Newgrange but with two tombs, one which records the morning solstice and the other records the evening solstice. Following an archaeological dig and the drawing up of a conservation plan the sight has been restored by the O.P.W. When the findings of the dig are published this site could rival
Newgrange both in archaeological importance and as a tourist attraction.
The unspoilt mining village of Ahenny is already a designated conservation area in South Tipperary. The village was built to accommodate workers in the Ormond and Victoria Slatequarries which are also tourist attractions in their own right.
I am a member of Tullaghought Tidy Towns Committee and we have made a number of developments over recent years, including a hilltop viewing tower with prominent views of Ahenny High Crosses, the Ormond Slatequarries, the Megalithic Tomb in Knockroe and the ancient burial ground on Kilmacoliver hill.
Also developed was a wildlife lake and nature reserve with a magnificent view of Slievenamon. This is the same view (A 18 appendix F) in the present Development Plan, which is listed as a view to be preserved and protected.
Another project was the development of a walking route through the local countryside. This loop walk was developed in conjunction with Bord Failte and Kilkenny County Council and opened by Liam Alyward M.E.P.
The spectacular views from this walk would be severely compromised if Giant Wind Turbines were erected on the Blackbog hills. In section 7.7 step 7 of your Draft Wind Energy Development Plan you give protection to Scenic Routes and Way Marked Trails. If Turbines were erected on Blackbog they would be less than 4 kilometers away and very visible.
I feel that all the efforts of the community to improve and enhance the locality for locals and encourage more tourists to visit the area will be ruined unless the area is zoned unsuitable for this type of development.
The construction and maintenance of Wind Turbines and the accompanying Sub Station together with the link roads between Turbines, the
construction of a power line to connect the facility to the national grid and the constant noise from the turbines in operation would transform our quiet rural scenic landscape into a noisy industrial eyesore. The narrow country roads in the area would need to be altered to accommodate the construction traffic involved in this type of project. This would have serious implications for the flora and fauna of the area.
This is an area with a substantial equine industry and there are serious concerns about the effects of Wind Turbines on horses, particularly thoroughbreds. It is also proven that there is a substantial drop in property values in areas where Wind Turbines are erected and there can be serious health problems for those living in close proximity to such a facility.
I am strongly of the opinion that wind power is not the most viable option to replace fossil fuels in electricity generation and I believe that more funding should be allocated towards tidal turbines which would be a more reliable and constant method of electricity generation. If wind turbines are deemed essential it is certainly not essential to have them spread across our beautiful countryside with power lines linking them to the national grid. They should be located in remote uninhabited areas or preferably offshore in one or two blocks which would require one connection to the grid and ensure our unspoilt countryside remains intact and so protect our vital tourist industry.
It must be noted that in the present Development Plan the majority of the areas deemed suitable for wind turbines have not been utilized, and yet we are close to reaching our targets for 2020. Surely therefore there is no need to enlarge these areas or increase their number.
I would strongly urge you to ensure that the area of the County stretching from the hills of Kilmacoliver, Blackbog, Baunreagh, Windgap and Frankfort is zoned unsuitable for wind energy development in the 2014-2020 Development Plan. In doing so you will preserve our heritage and landscape for future generations.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely.
First Name:
Richard
Last Name:
Walsh
on Tue, 13/08/2013 - 12:00am admin
