A public inquiry in to a Mournes wind farm has been significantly postponed amid large scale opposition to a “forest of steel”.
ABO Wind NI Ltd, with its HQ in Lisburn, has plans for eight turbines and an electrical substation to be constructed in Hilltown, Co Down.
An inquiry was due to take place in March, however it has now been delayed to September according to a Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) letter (seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service) to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), citing “significant resourcing pressures”.
At Newry, Mourne and Down District Council this week, independent Crotlieve cllr, Jarlath Tinnelly said: “About the wind farm inquiry, which has now been put forward on to later this year.
“The question is will we be having an input in to that inquiry? Assuming we will and if we intend to do that, do council intend to bring a paper back for further discussion? Had we not agreed that we were against it as a collective, is that not the case?”
There are over 4,000 objections on the NI Planning Portal to the wind farm which would be in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
A collective objection signed by hundreds of residents and environmental campaigners, reads: “This project will create a forest of steel in the Mournes and the industrialisation of the stunning and spectacular scenery of our area. I am deeply opposed to the application.”
ABO Wind NI Ltd was contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) for comment.
Its website states: “We have several projects across Northern Ireland and Scotland that are between early stage assessment and planning.
“Northern Ireland has a very good wind resource, however continued investment in the grid is required to ensure satisfactory integration of renewable energy to the grid.”
The renewable energy company has until June to make its case to the PAC.
A council officer responded: “There was a recommendation from this council to request that Minister (Nichola) Mallon (DfI- SDLP) at the time put the project forward for public consultation. So, that’s one of the reasons why I believe that this public consultation is now happening.
“I think that is the decision of the council and I don’t see any further engagement other than may be through individual parties representing at the public consultation.
“The council didn’t reach a position either way in respect of whether in support or rejection to it.”
