North Mayo region has enough wind turbines
PUTTING windmills in everyone's back yard in Erris has got to end, with millions being exported in wind and gas energy and very little coming back in.
Local Councillor Gerry Coyle has hit out about people building homes having to show proof of their links to the area, yet in the heart of scenic Erris you could construct wind turbines that are 185 metres high.
Speaking at a municipal meeting, Councillor Coyle said having to show your ties to the area was 'rubbish', and it needs to be looked at in a review of the county development plan.
Who was more entitled to the view, he asked. The person who comes for one week of the year or the person who will live there 365 days of the year. And then they have the situation where they are 'building windmills like they're going out of fashion', he commented. No one asks them have they links to the area before building.
Thirteen new windmills are being proposed, he said, in the heart of Erris, 185 metres high, but you have to make an appointment to get into a meeting to discuss the project. You couldn't drop in for a chat. And he hit out at the engagement, saying a letter was stuck in his letterbox when he was at Mass.
However, he wasn't going to make an appointment, but he was going to go. As an elected representative he should not have to make an appointment with anyone for them to tell him they're going to put a windmill in his back garden.
“Erris has enough,” he stated. “We will now have the biggest wind farm in Europe.”
Councillor Coyle noted how the swimming pools in Westport, Ballina, Castlebar and Claremorris are heated with gas from Bellanaboy, yet Belmullet's indoor pool is closed as it has no gas.
It was time to say Erris has enough of these windmills. They don't get enough back from the rates from the wind farms or gas terminal. Millions goes out and what comes back, he asked. Every bit is exported while their own infrastructure and electric has failed.
Councillor Coyle said he wasn't against wind energy but they have to end putting windmills in everyone's back garden, noting there's loads of ocean out there and other areas that could be looked at not in the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Councillor Chris Maxwell commented on the fact that China is opening up coal mines 'as fast as they can’ to make turbines to send to Europe. And yet we can't go out and cut turf.
He quoted a Councillor Brendan Mulroy comment on a previous separate matter, “Fawlty Towers at its best.”
* Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme