Plans for another West Offaly wind farm emerge

Plans for a wind farm on a Bord na Móna landbank across Bellair Bog, outside Ballycumber, took another step forward this week with the news that a series of public community engagement events are to take place next month,

A draft layout of the proposed wind farm project – to be called Bellair Wind Farm – is to be drawn up following the first round of community engagement and will be available for inspection at the second phase of community engagement in the coming months.

Three locations, Ballycumber, Ballinahown and Moate, have been earmarked for in-person community engagement sessions on the Bellair Wind Farm project, with the first one due to take place in Ballycumber GAA Club on Tuesday, June 17.

This will be followed by a community engagement session in Ballinahown Community Hall on Wednesday, June 18, while the third session as part of the intial phase of of the project, will take place on Tuesday, June 24. All sessions will take place between 5pm and 8.30pm.

A statement issued on behalf of Bord na Móna described community engagement as “an essential part” of the Bellair project, which will help to ensure that the proposed wind farm is developed in a way that “contributes positively to the local communities, local economies, and climate change.”

The statement adds that, if the Bellair Wind Farm is delivered across Bord n Mona lands on Bellair Bog it will bring “a range of benefits for the local area” including a dedicated Community Benefit Fund.

Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables have already appointed a Community Engagement and Stakeholder Team for the proposed project on Bellair Bog, including a dedicated Community Liaison Officer, who they say will “continue to engage with members of the local comnunity throughout the project.”

Another proposed windfarm in the area, the Leamonaghan Wind Farm, has met with significant opposition from locals concerned over its impact on the heritage of the area, which is strongly associated with St Manchan.