Offaly County Council Rejects Midlands Wind Farm Plans

The final decision will rest with An Coimisiún Pleanála after it examines options.

Plans for a new Midlands wind farm have been rejected unanimously by Offaly County Councillors. 

BnM is seeking permission to build 15 turbines on Leamanaghan Bog, the local authority proposed reducing it to seven but both were rejected by elected members.

Coimisiún Pleanála will consider all three options and make the final decision. 

At the monthly meeting of Offaly County Council, a Chief Executive report was put forward proposing a scaled-back development of seven wind turbines instead of the original fifteen. 

The addendum to reject the plans was proposed by Independent Councillor Sean O'Brien and seconded by Fianna Fail's Frank Moran. 

Following the vote, Cathaoirleach John Leahy urged the wind energy company to respect the democratic views of the members moving forward.

A Sacred Landscape Threatened

Cllr O Brien says "Leamanaghan Bog is an area of immense archaeological and spiritual heritage dating back over 5,000 years, featuring ancient Christian ruins, holy wells, and medieval pathways (Toghers). "

Fine Gael Councillor Hugh Egan on recommending a refusal said,  "Anyone with sense wouldn't even dream of this. It is archaeological vandalism of the highest order".

Sinn Fein Councillor Aoife Masterson agreed "We cannot risk our local and national heritage for the sake of a short-sighted windfarm. We cannot drop the ball on this."

The final decision now rests with An Coimisiún Pleanála, which will review the Chief Executive's report alongside the minutes detailing the council's total rejection.

Independent Councillor Sean O'Brien says rejecting it is the right thing to do:

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
 

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