Objections heating up against planned Kells solar farm

Huge concerns have been expressed about plans for a 405 acre solar farm close to the River Blackwater outside Kells with local residents arguing that it is a totally inappropriate location for a solar farm given that the Blackwater Valley is part of an EU Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation.

Other concerns include the loss of high quality tillage land for food production, the effect of the proposed development on a sensitive archaeological area and the cumulative impact of this and other solar farms in this part of the county.

Last month, Fyanstown Solar Farm Limited lodged a planning application with Meath County Council seeking a 10 Year Planning Permission for a solar farm and energy storage compound over a total area of 164 hectares in three land parcels in the townlands of Fyanstown, Hurdlestown, Kilmainham, Rossmeen and Sedenrath, Kells, Co Meath. If approved the solar farm would have be operational for 40 years.

Over 80 local families were represented at a recent public meeting to discuss the proposal and the Blackwater Valley Conservation Committee has been formed. They are currently working on submissions ahead of the 23rd January deadline and a drop-in session to assist those wishing to make an objection on the planning application will take place this Saturday, 11th January in Kilmainham GFC from 1.30-5pm.

Spokesperson for the Blackwater Conservation Committee Kenneth Walsh said they are not opposed to solar farms but feel the location is totally inappropriate.

He pointed out that the area is part of the River Blackwater and River Boyne Special Protection Area and home to wildlife including the kingfisher and whooper swan and said that there is “massive risk to disturbing those wildlife populations” if the development goes ahead.

The site is located between Kells and Teltown where the Tailteann Games originated and Mr Walsh said it is an area of “massive historical importance”.

“The National Monuments Service has mapped significant historic sites in the immediate pathway of the solar farm. This is available to view on their archaeological survey of Ireland site. Transport Infrastructure Ireland have also mapped the prehistoric archaeology in the area which spans hundreds of acres. This is not just folklore, it is state agencies bringing a scientific lens to our landscape,” he said.

Another major area of concern is the loss of this land for food production and Mr Walsh said the “sustainability of food production has to be balanced against the utilisation of high value arable land for solar farms. Sheep grazing is not a credible substitute.”

They are also concerned about the lack of a whole county or regional plan on solar farms. “County Meath has seen a significant upswing in applications for large scale solar farms which are developer led. The Co Council is responding to individual applications with no future knowledge as to where the next application will come from,” said Mr Walsh.

He added: “The tools for good decision making must also be available to decision makers and in this case the absence of an overall county/regional plan is a critical deficit which is more apparent now as the applications are submitted.”