Two-Mile-House says NO to Dunnstown battery storage plan
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| Road by Dunshane and (inset) typical BESS. |
Communities in the area of Dunnstown, Dunshane and Two Mile House are starting a campaign to oppose a planning application for a large-scale battery storage installation (BESS) at Dunnstown, writes Brian Byrne.
The 'Two Mile House Says No!' group — comprising residents from Coughlanstown, Dunnstown, Dunshane, Flemington, Harristown, Mullacash, Two-Mile-House and surrounding areas — say they have serious safety, ecological, hydrological, social and environmental concerns about the development.
Spokesperson Conor Maguire says the planning application was made 'without due correspondence' to locals, who are concerned about the precedent which the proposal might set for the area and for other rural communities around Ireland.
Mr Maguire says safety is at the top of their concerns, citing incidents of fires with consequent release of toxic combustion products in similar installations in other parts of the world.
Emphasising that the group is not opposed to planning for sustainable energy provision, he says there's an urgent need for Government and the local authorities across Ireland to set clear policy on planning rules for such developments, restricting them to industrial zones, where there is less impact on rural Ireland and residential areas.
The group has set up a GoFundMe page and an email address for those with concerns to get in touch — twomilehousesaysno@gmail.com. A Twitter channel @TMHsaysno and Facebook page have also been set up.
The applicant is Strategic Power Projects Limited, a Dundalk based company established seven months ago. The planning reference is 21608 and submissions must be made by 9 June 2021.
