Chapter 7 WildKildare notes that ECO50, O53, O54, O55, and O56 are all of relevance to the National Peatlands Park plan with direct mention in EC A7
7.12.7 is very welcome as it recognises the potential of Kildare’s industrial peatlands in terms of Biodiversity services, wild areas, flood management, conservation etc.
Concerns EC O2 - we would submit the objectives here haven’t been achieved based on the current wind farm sensitivity/planning Map in Apendix 2
EC O3 – Again the aims here have clearly failed over the years with the current planning approach and national guidelines on same
EC 06 - to date developers have treated this provision with barely disguised contempt/lip service across the country ie. a cynical box ticking exercise, as highlighted by Bord Na Monas current approach to windfarm planning in regards to the Ballydermot Proposal that has ignored the vast majority of feedback on the shortcomings of its current planned scale and design. Similar issues have arisen with their treatment of communities in other parts of the country including Longford and Mayo.
Sec 7.5 Refers to appendix 2 where key map of windfarm “sensitivity” with an explanation of the Zone 3 criteria. The concern here is that it claims to take into account the likes of wildlife, habitats, bird migration routes. This is clearly not true given what has been recorded on these matters by WildKildare and other similar NGOs within the county and what info is available on the likes of the National Biodiversity Date Base.