A north Kerry community said yesterday that it was "devastated" by a decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for a €40 million wind-farm only a kilometre from the coastal village of Tarbert.
In response to the decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning for the 380 ft 19-turbine wind-farm overlooking the Shannon estuary, a spokesman for the Tarbert Development Association said that the community was "shocked and devastated" by the decision.
The board overturned a recommendation by its own inspector and a decision by Kerry County Council to refuse planning permission for the 28.5 MW wind-farm, which will supply electricity to 30,000 homes.
The inspector had recommended that planning be refused because of the wind-farm's proximity to Tarbert. He said it would seriously injure the amenities and depreciate the value of houses in the vicinity due to visual intrusion and excessive noise.
The inspector said the wind-farm was premature pending the completion and adoption by Kerry County Council of "Renewable Energy Policy, a draft policy for Co Kerry". The draft policy proposes that wind-farms should not be located within three kilometres of towns or villages.
The board's decision brings to four the number of land-based wind-farms given the go-ahead along the Shannon estuary, while a Limerick company has plans to establish a €130 million offshore wind-farm at the mouth of the estuary.
A spokesman for the Tarbert Development Association said the wind-farm would contribute to the decline of Tarbert, despite the developers, airtricity, agreeing to contribute €900,000 or €30,000 a year during the operation of the wind-farm to the local community for "recreational, educational and cultural infrastructure".
He said: "Over 700 signed a petition objecting to the proposal. The people of the parish are very disappointed, especially given that both the Bord Pleanála inspector and Kerry County Council planners said that planning should be refused."