A decision to grant planning permission for a 100-metre meteorological mast in East Clare has been upheld by An Bord Pleanála.
It means EDF Renewables has jumped another hurdle in its bid to construct a seven turbine windfarm in the Lackareagh mountains.
The meteorological mast will be situated on a two hectare site at Killeagy which is 1km west of Broadford and 7km from Killaloe.
The 100-metre structure will be used for accurately measuring weather conditions in the area to help with the turbine selection process for a future wind farm development.
The mast will be removed when the planning permission expires in five years time and no new access roads will be created as the infrastructure will be delivered by tractor and a flatbed trailer.
In November, French multinational EDF Renewables appealed Clare County Council’s decision to refuse permission for a seven turbine windfarm in the Lackareagh mountains, which it claims would produce enough energy for 35,000 homes.
Its plans to construct a mast in Killeagy also met fierce opposition, with 117 public submissions lodged to the local authority.
One local resident Brendan Sweeney took his concerns further to An Bord Pleanála, strongly objecting to the development, he stated the plans “had no mention of protecting a watercourse on the site from concrete spillages or traffic.
Mr Sweeney also referenced 16 past examples where mast and windfarm planning applications were refused by the local authority for various reasons such as injury to amenities, landscapes, scenic routes, property devaluation, noise disturbance and ecological damage.
However, An Bord Pleanála has this week upheld the decision subject to five conditions.
