"Edenderry could be used as wind turbine guinea pig"

Almost 80 individual objections have been lodged against a proposed plan to build two wind turbines in Edenderry which Cllr Noel Cribbin believes could set a precedent for other councils around the country. Protesters in Edenderry erected and extended a crane in the town"s main square on Wednesday to demonstrate the height of the wind turbines which have been proposed for the town. Cllr Cribbin said this application was the first of its type to come to Offaly County Council. He said that while he had no objection to wind turbines, their erection in built up areas was not appropriate. He expressed concerns over the town being used 'as a guinea pig for other counties'. Approximately 100 people turned up at a meeting of concerned residents on Wednesday night. They expressed concerns ranging from the aesthetic implications to possible noise pollution. According to Cllr Cribbin, the structures should not be placed within at least a couple of hundred metres of houses. He said he fully agreed with the use of wind turbines but felt they would be better positioned in remote areas, on mountains or in the sea. Edenderry Town Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Brian Carroll expressed his disapproval for the two turbines which are planned for the rear of St Francis Street in Edenderry. 'I am 100 per cent behind the people of Edenderry objecting to these turbines,' he said. He believes the local representatives at both town and county council level are all opposed to the construction of the turbines in the vicinity of a built up area.