RESIDENTS OF Clonroche have confirmed that a legal challenge is now underway against An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission for a wind farm development on Ballinclay Hill.

In March of last year, Wexford County Council planners announced that they had refused planning permission to the project, which consists of three wind turbines measuring around 85 metres, an electricity sub station and ancillary buildings. However, An Bord Pleanála overturned the decision in November and granted permission to Ballinclay Windfarms Ltd, whose Directors are Edward Murphy of Thomastown and James Murphy of Knoxtown.

Unhappy with the decision, residents made an application to the Hight Court for permission to review the legality of An Bord Pleanála’s decision and on January 16 the High Court accepted that there were substantial legal grounds for bringing this case. The court granted permission to proceed and seek a full judicial review at a date which has yet to be fixed.

A spokesperson for the Clonroche Against Wind Turbines group said: “Should this project proceed, it is felt that it is the “key to the door” for similar wind farm projects as the wider area from Rathnure to Corcoran’s Cross to Carrigbyrne has been zoned suitable for wind farming in the current Wexford County Council Development Plan.”

“Our legal representatives have identified a number of grounds which they will ask the Court to examine,” the spokesperson continued. “We are very pleased that the Court has given the green light for these grounds to be pursued, albeit coming at a high financial cost to the community”.

A public meeting on the matter will be held in Clonroche Community Centre on Thursday, February 9 at 8 p.m. and all are welcome to attend. For more information, contact [email protected].

An artists rendering of what the wind farm could look like from The Villas, Clonroche.