As a result of our town hall meeting on 6th Feb 2024, this new petition and sign sheet will be available over this weekend (9-11 Feb 2024). If you wish to sign it, or people you know would like to sign it, please watch out for it in our towns and villages. If you would like to get your neighbours and friends to sign it, the petition is attached below for you to give them the opportunity to show their support.
Just scan and return it to us <savemountleinster@gmail.com> on the morning of 15th Feb to ensure that it is included in our observation to An Bord Pleanála.
If you prefer to sign the online petition it is still active. Over 3,380 people have signed it to date. The number of people who sign it will be part of the SML observation to ABP on 15th Feb 2024, so please share with people you know.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you all for your support and here is an update on the latest development in this ongoing campaign, which began in 2020. Carlow County Council, in March 2021,and subsequently An Bord Pleanála (ABP),in March 2023, both refused planning permission for the proposed Coillte/Futurenergy wind farm on Croaghaun, part of the Blackstairs Mountains. 300 individual submissions were sent to Carlow Co Co and 150 unique observations to ABP, from mostly local people. An Uplift petition (run during Covid when physical petitions could not be circulated and signed) collected over 2,700 online signatures in 2021, and is now at 3,216 signatures (Jan 2024).
However, Coillte/Futurenergy, not taking no for an answer, challenged ABP’s refusal. We were informed on January 19th 2024 that ABP’s decision to refuse has now been quashed by order of the High Court. No rationale was given for this development – we’ve been told by ABP that they are not obliged to provide any reasons for their decision to concede. Meanwhile, the case has been remitted by the High Court to ABP for a new ruling which means that the appeal has been reactivated.
Not only is this whole process completely lacking in transparency but, in our opinion, is totally undemocratic. The bottom line is that the fight to Save Mountain Leinster is far from over.
Coillte/Futurenergy maintain that “ if the proposed development does not proceed, Carlow County Council would be significantly deficient in their contribution to onshore renewable energy targets”. This is untrue. In fact, in terms of decarbonisation and renewable energy production, County Carlow has already exceeded its obligations. Based on the National Renewable Energy Strategy, which sets renewable energy targets for each county, Carlow is producing in excess of three times its 2030 renewable energy target of 130MW and currently the combined installed and consented renewable wind and solar energy generation capacity for Carlow is almost 400MW. When is enough enough?
Carlow, the second smallest county in Ireland, is landlocked and The Blackstairs Uplands, as well as being one of the most important areas for tourism, contains a vast ecologically valuable Special Area of Conservation. 5000ha of Annex 1 European Dry Heath, one of the two most threatened habitats in the EU. 95 bird species including 15 Red Listed critically endangered birds and 29 Amber Listed birds of major conservation concern have been observed in and around the Blackstairs, as well as 68 other species of flora and fauna of conservation concern.
Given that we are in the midst of a dual crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss, decarbonisation cannot be pursued to the detriment of our struggling biodiversity. While renewable energy facilities can be placed in a range of locations, biodiversity cannot be relocated – this unique upland environment can never be replaced if it is destroyed. Common sense would dictate that it is profoundly ecologically unsound to build an industrial wind farm on such a valuable and sensitive habitat.
The Save Mount Leinster group strongly feel that it would be much more appropriate to implement a Nature Restoration programme on the Blackstairs Uplands. It is now well established that restoring natural landscapes is one of the most effective and efficient ways to combat the climate crisis while also boosting biodiversity, a nature-based solution for climate control. Our Uplands are a precious and dwindling resource – not just for biodiversity and carbon storage, but also for clean water production and flood control as well as for hill farming, high-nature value farming, sustainable forestry, cultural heritage, tourism & ecotourism, education and recreation. These ecosystem services needs to be recognised, harnessed and protected, as well appropriately resourced and remunerated to provide a Just Transition for the local community. We would love to realise our vision for these wonderful Uplands.
If you feel the same way we would really appreciate if you would spread the word – the more signatures we get the better. For information about our campaign please visit our website site http://www.savemountleinster.com
Best wishes, The Save Mount Leinster Team
Save Mount Leinster 