Galetech get go ahead for nine turbines in cloghan

Submissions consenting to a Cloghan wind energy project given the green light by Offaly planners this week outnumbered those against the project by almost two to one.

Galetech Energy Developments Cloghan Ltd were given the go ahead by Offaly planners yesterday (Tuesday) for a development of nine wind turbines with an overall maximum tip height of 150m at lands at Stonestown, Kilcamin, Crancreagh and Derrinlough in Cloghan.

Provided no appeals against that decision are lodged, the project will be granted planning permission on November 4.

Late last December An Bord Pleanala overturned a decision by Offaly County Council to allow Galetech Energy Developments to erect ten turbines reaching a height of up to 170m in the same areas, saying the development would create a “significant visual intrusion” that would be “excessively dominant”.

That application attracted just one objection. This time around planners received submissions far in excess of that. Submissions numbering in the region of 170 were received by the planning office, with some 60 of those noting their objections to the plan but more than 110 others putting on record their consent for the project.

Offaly planners have attached a total of 19 conditions to the planning permission given this week.

Those conditions include that all turbine blades rotate in the same direction, that noise levels shouldn’t exceed 40dBA, that no shadow flicker shall occur at any dwelling within a ten rotor diameter of turbines, that an avian radar system must be installed and that cables should be laid underground.

In addition Galetech will have to pay €288,00 to the council as part of its development contribution scheme.