Solar farm would be on flood plain says local objector
A decision on a planning application for a €1bn data centre at Rochfortbridge is expected on June 2 next. The proposal, by Offaly company, Red Admiral Ltd, a subsidiary of Lumcloon Energy, is for six two-storey buildings, a car park, and a solar farm.
Frank Kelly is one of the local people who oppose the plans, and he wants to remind people that the deadline for submissions is Tuesday May 12.
He points out that the complex would be located next to his home on what he says is a flood plain. “It would affect our water supply, because we get our water from wells. There’s something in the region of 100 wells that could be affected. Our wells have been there for 50 years, many for much longer.”
Frank said: “It’s a flash flood plain and we have floods there every few years depending on how fast the rain falls.” Frank provided a video of the field flooded in February of this year.
“If there’s corn sown in the field and it’s advanced far enough, it absorbs heavy rains before they get to the basins. But this year the corn was sown about a month later than normal and we had a number of cases of flash flooding there.
“We’re looking at contamination of a well from that too. And any time that happens, our well would be contaminated, and if it got particularly bad, it could affect sewage.”
There have been more 60 objections to proposals. Tuesday is the last day for objections to be submitted.
“We’ve had meetings with a number of county councillors and they were basically against it. They were saying you shouldn’t be able to put solar panels right up against people’s houses.
“The councillors would tell you that it’s outside of their control, that data centres are being pushed down the country, in on top of communities, and they don’t have a say on a national level.”
Frank highlighted two others who have been working on objections to the plans. “I wish to mention Damien Gavin and William Carey, they are the principal people working the hardest.”
In 2022, Westmeath County Council granted planning permission for a natural gas fuelled power plant and battery storage facility on site, despite local opposition.