Countryside Alliance hears concerns about wind farm plan

Ulster Unionists David McClarty and Norman Hillis have outlined the concerns of local people about a proposed wind farm off the North Coast to the Countryside Alliance.

They held talks in Portrush with Gordon Anderson, director of policy and political affairs for the Countryside Alliance.

The Alliance, a rural lobbying group which represents over 30,000 people in Northern Ireland, says it has received a number of enquiries about the wind farm proposals.

After the meeting Mr Anderson said: “The Countryside Alliance strongly supports the development of mechanisms to produce renewable energy and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, which have a damaging impact on the environment. However, many types of renewable energy have implications for the local community. In this instance for example, there are concerns about the visual and ecological impact of the proposals in an area of such outstanding beauty.”

The UUP representatives added: “It is vital that as many groups and individuals become involved in the wind farm debate.

“We explained that there are growing concerns about how a wind farm would impact on tourism in the region. There is no doubt that what is planned by potential developers B9 is on a much larger scale than they initially floated.

“Photomontages of what the area would like with wind turbines in place were simply frightening and have caused a considerable concern among local people who value the unspoilt beauty of the North Coast as the major asset in the region’s tourism appeal."

The proposed wind farm could supply power to 170,000 homes across Northern Ireland and would involve constructing up to 85 turbines, each almost 200ft tall.

However, the plans to build the wind farm in Co Londonderry are being jeopardised by a territorial dispute between the British and Irish Governments.

The UK Crown Estate claims it owns the proposed site on the seabed five miles north of Portstewart and that it granted a licence last year to the consortium B9 Energy to carry out a feasibility study at the Tunes Plateau.

But the Irish Government has said it owns part of the site and the project must receive its approval.

Opponents of the scheme have claimed the proposed wind farm would be an eyesore, would damage tourism, and has prompted many local people to express their concern at the proposals.

(MB)