‘Monstrosity’ wind farm refused permission in Waterford's Comeragh Mountains

A large wind farm, which was proposed on the western foothills of the Comeragh Mountains, has been refused permission to proceed by An Bord Pleanala, much to the delight of councillors in the area.

The Coumnagappul wind farm was to include 10 wind turbines stretching across the townlands of Coumnagappul, Carrigbrack, Knockavanniamountain, Barricreemountain Upper and Glennaneanemountain and Skeehans.

Waterford City & County Council recommended that An Bord Pleanala refuse permission for the development.

In a report submitted to An Bord Pleanala, the local planning authority outlined "very serious concerns" regarding the carrying capacity and safety of the local road network serving the proposed development and the adequacy of the local road network to accommodate heavy construction traffic associated with the proposed development.

The Council also outlined that the proposed development would be sited on lands within an area where wind farm development is not normally permissible for reasons relating to landscape sensitivity.

Aisling O'Sullivan, Waterford Council Senior Executive Planner, said this week: “The submission of that report to An Bord Pleanala was a joint effort by the elected members and the executive in the council.” 

Further commenting on the news this week, elected members in the Comeragh district expressed relief at the development’s refusal to commence.

Cllr Liam Brazil said: “The wind farm in Coumnagappul has been refused and thanks to the Waterford City and County Council planning department for putting in the strong submission on that, because if this had come out it would have destroyed our beautiful Comeragh mountains.

“Our mountains are something we should be proud of and that people can have, so I’m delighted that Waterford City and County Council and An Bord Pleanala both refused this monstrosity.” 

Cathaoirleach of the Comeragh municipality, Cllr Seanie Power, said that the refusal “was good news” for locals living in the area.

He added, however, that there is still concern regarding the development of solar farms in the largely rural Comeragh district.

“Planning for solar farms seem to be really getting out of hand, not only in Waterford but all over the country,” he said.

“They seem to be going in ‘ten a penny’ at this stage and I think it’s something that government really needs to be taking into account at this stage.

“We’re using the best agricultural land for solar panels and also spoiling our beautiful countryside for people who are living next to them and devaluing their houses.” 

“My opinion is that offshore is the place for them,” he added.

Aisling O’Sullivan responded to the concern, saying that the council is attempting to “balance between our obligations under climate change and our climate action plans, and the development in local areas.” 

In relation to Cllr Power’s comments on offshore wind, Ms. O’Sullivan said: “You make a good point in relation to offshore, and that is something that we are going to see in the few years coming down the tracks and Waterford will be central to that.”