Wind Submissions
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Planning Section
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Department of the Environment
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Custom House
Co Tipperary
Dublin 1
By Email to : windsubmissions@environ.ie
February 20 2014-02-21
Re:
Proposed Revisions to Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006
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Targeted Review in relation to Noise, Proximity and Shadow Flicker
Dear Sir/Madam
This submission is made by Anne Croome-Carroll, of Donoughmore House, Lisronagh, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. I am a
breeder of thoroughbred and non-thoroughbred horses.
I am writing in support of the joint submission made by Irish Thoroughbred Breeder’s Association, Association of Irish
Racehorse Owners, Irish Jockeys Association and Irish Racehorse Trainers Association dated February 17th 2014.
The Irish thoroughbred industry is under threat by a new generation of large scale industrial wind turbines which are
an incompatible land use with the established thoroughbred industry in this country. Revisions to the 2006 Wind
Energy Development Guidelines should not facilitate clear threats to the viability of the Irish thoroughbred industry.
(a) Targeted revisions to Wind Energy Guidelines should prevent the potential negative impact of wind farm
proposals on the safety of thoroughbred horses and personnel, in particular ridden horses, because of the very
real risk of thoroughbreds being adversely affected by turbines being located directly within their range of
vision or hearing (noting thoroughbred horses highly evolved flight response and their particular sensitivity to
perceived visual or auditory threats), and
(b) Targeted revisions to Wind Energy Guidelines should prevent the visible encroachment of wind turbine
developments on the undisturbed rural landscape of stud farms and training yards which will result in a flight
of capital from Irish studs and stables. It may also be a significant deterrent to future funding and support by
overseas investors, who are integral to the industry.
Therefore,
Thoroughbred breeding facilities, such as stud farms, stables, training yards and gallops should be added to the
Wind Energy Development Guidelines definition of ‘Noise Sensitive Property’, at section 5.6.6 of the amended
text to acknowledge the specific vulnerability of the industry to incompatible land uses such as wind farms,
Additionally, noise limits referenced in Section 5.6.8 should be amended to apply at the boundaries of these
thoroughbred breeding facilities.
Seperately, the definition of ‘other affected property (e.g. existing work places or schools’) in Section 5.12.1
relating to Shadow Flicker, should be amended to include ‘thoroughbred breeding and training facilities’.
Yours sincerely,
Anne Croome-Carroll