Plans by a windfarm developer to retain an 80-metre meteorological mast in East Clare have been struck down by Clare County Council.
It comes just weeks after Ireland’s Aviation Authority warned the structure was posing a serious danger to low-flying aircraft.
The mast, which has stood since November 2023, has been used by Futur Energy Ireland to assess wind speeds for its proposed nine-turbine windfarm on lands between Broadford and Sixmilebridge.
It was built without planning permission but Futur Energy claimed it was exempted development – something that was sharply disputed by several local objectors and Ireland’s Aviation Authority, AirNav Ireland.
In its submission, the organisation responsible for monitoring all 451,000 square kilometres of Irish airspace claims the mast represents a serious and unacceptable danger to low flying aircraft, particularly helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft engaged in lawful low-level operations.
AirNav Ireland added that the mast is not fitted with aviation obstacle lighting which has created a potentially hazardous situation for flight calibration checks of the Navigation Aids serving Shannon Airport .
Clare County Council has this week decided to refuse permission for the retention of the 80-metre mast, citing potential dangers to the navigation of aircraft and the undesirable precedent it could set for future developments.
Futur Energy Ireland is likely to appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála and has four weeks to do so.
