A GROUP of concerned residents have called for a moratorium on ‘industrial scale’ wind turbines across the district until a definitive policy on their provision is agreed.
As concern mounts about the growing number of applications for huge turbines being approved, residents at the Myra Road near Strangford have voiced concern about seven applications for new turbines close to them in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
One of the applications for a turbine which is almost 50 metres in height at the Bannaghan Road area in nearby Raholp has already been approved. Residents are hoping that planning decisions for two turbines at the Castleward Road and others at the Myra Road, Loughmoney Road, Struell Wells Road and Ballyculter Road will be put on hold.
Residents are keen to meet with planners and are urging local politicians to hold a special meeting in public with planning officials to discuss wind turbine applications across the district, hoping they will agree a moratorium on new turbines until a definitive policy governing their erection is in place.
Residents argued that before Newry, Mourne and Down Council was handed responsibility for planning, applications for huge turbines were dealt with by experienced planners in Belfast. They believe politicians must give the wind turbine issue their “fullest attention” and ensure Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are not blighted by turbines, some of which will stand almost 87 metres tall at their highest point.
“Almost everyone along the Myra Road is up in arms about these particular applications,” said a residents’ spokesman. “The local planning system is absolutely impenetrable and it is really difficult to get any information out of it.
“The application for the Bannaghan Road has been approved, but the six others have not. The turbine proposed for the Struell Wells Road will be 87 metres high at its highest point and clearly visible from some distance.”
The spokesman said when central government controlled planning, all applications for wind turbines were dealt with by a specialist department in Belfast. He said in the current scenario of devolved planning responsibility, that expertise is not available and there is no definitive energy plan for the district.
“We believe planners are struggling to deal with so many applications for turbines on an ad hoc basis as they do not have access to the previous expertise of their colleagues. The Strangford and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is really special and should be protected,” he continued, confirming residents have also raised their concerns with South Down MP Margaret Ritchie.
“We are calling for a halt to wind turbine applications being processed until there is a definitive plan for their development in the district. The only way many people are finding out about applications for new turbines is via the planning advert in local newspapers.”
The spokesman said residents are looking to their elected representatives to ask “hard questions” on wind turbine applications, given the huge scale of some of those being proposed and indeed already erected. He said the impact on Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty must be a key consideration when determining applications.
“We are voicing a collective community objection about the proposals in our particular area. We have some of the most beautiful countryside in Europe and the problem we face today will be someone else’s tomorrow. We are flagging up our concerns and sincerely hope our politicians are listening. The cumulative impact of the seven turbines being proposed on the Strangford and Lecale area is not insignificant,” he said.
The spokesman said the Myra Road residents have gone public with their concerns to encourage those in other parts of the council area concerned about the impact of wind turbines on their respective communities to do the same.
He added: “We are keen to educate elected representatives about our concerns and are very keen to meet with them. We hope other key organisations like the National Trust will make public their views on this most contentious of issues.
“We are saying to people in other areas that it could be them next week. If people want to erect industrial scale wind turbines the locations should be plotted on a map which people can then view and make comment on. Let’s have a policy on turbines that can be publicly discussed as some of those being proposed will impact on hundreds of people for hundreds of years.”
A Newry, Mourne and Down Council spokeswoman said it is normal practice for anyone who would
like councillors to meet to discuss a particular matter to request this directly with their local representative who can in turn make such a proposal to council, adding: “It would then reside with the Council on whether or not to facilitate such a request.”