ANTI-windfarm campaigners in Donegal say they are watching developments in a landmark case – and could sue both Donegal County Council and wind energy companies on health and financial grounds.
Seven families in the north Cork village of Banteer are suing a windfarm operator in a landmark case, claiming the huge turbines are adversely affecting their health.
Families in Wexford and Roscommon are about to follow suit.
The Gweebarra Conservation Group says families in Donegal are watching the cases closely.
There are people in Donegal contemplating suing wind companies and the local Council if the situation continues as it is going,” said a spokesperson.
“There has been little or no consultation; I’ll-sited turbines with no legal set back distance; deteriorating health and the inability to sell property adjacent wind farms are all concerns for people living in Donegal.
“The fact that revenue has given lower Property Tax estimates along the route of the high voltage power line currently being erected by Eirgrid to facilitate wind farms is the State acknowledgment that wind farms and pylons bring down property prices.
“People will want to be compensated for having to leave their homes in many instances due to the proximity of wind turbines and high voltage power lines.”
The Glenties Windfarm Information Group insists it has no plans to sue anyone – as the group doesn’t believe plans for a windfarm in Straboy/Glenties won’t get the go-ahead.
Talk of suing on health grounds is premature, said a spokeswoman.
“We do not expect to have a windfarm located here, based on the irrefutable evidence heard at An Bord Pleanala Oral Hearing, October 2012. in Glenties,” she said.
“However, we fully understand where the Cork people are coming from, having listened to the evidence of Mr. Dick Bowdler ( on noise/sound ) and Dr. Chris Hanning ( on infrasound-noise/health ).
“Also we heard the evidence of peat experts Dr. Olivia Bragg and Dr. Paul Johnston, both of whom pointed to the lack of a detailed peat risk assessment in a populated area, immediately below a ‘peat disposal area’.
“We, in Ireland, need our planners and politicians to plan for the future. Windfarms located close to human habitation will not be a future,” she added.
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