Challenge against wind farm turbines "almost three times the height of Liberty Hall"

Two separate High Court challenges have been initiated against An Bord Pleanála's decision to approve planning permission for a 13-turbine wind farm near Coole village in northwest County Westmeath, close to the Longford border. The North Westmerta Turbine Action Group and environmental campaigner Peter Sweetman have each brought proceedings seeking orders to quash the board's decision. The applicants argue the permission breaches EU directives concerning habitats and environmental impact assessments. Counsel for the residents' group contended that the precise route of a 25-kilometre grid connection to the national electricity network was not definitively established during the planning process, meaning no compliant environmental assessment was conducted. The proposed turbines would measure 175 metres in tip height. In the second action, grounds cited include the board's alleged failure to properly consider ongoing peat extraction operations at the site and potential impacts on the local bat population. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission to bring both challenges on an ex-parte basis, with matters returnable in late July.