Linda Clare, Batterstown, Dunboyne, Co Meath

DEAR SIR: I found your journalist’s article on Meath/Element Wind Energy very limited in its analysis. Patrick Donohoe concluded that the objectors are basing their opposition to the development on what might happen and, by suggestion, dismisses noise from turbines, potential flicker and health concerns.

Instead of leaning over half-doors and talking at gates, Patrick Donohoe should have viewed the wind farm application, which comprises 13 books, in the planning offices in Navan, Co Meath. There, he would have read a scientific, engineering and environmental study by Element Power itself, which clarifies in absolute terms that there would indeed be a huge impact on the pastoral community in visual and sound terms.

With turbines reaching almost 600ft into the sky, Castletown village would see, or be close to, almost 30 turbines. Lobinstown, a neighbouring village, 31 turbines, while Creewood would enjoy the full monty of 46 turbines.

The predicted noise level for villages, houses and roads is between 35 and 40 decibels (book three of 13), while directly underneath the turbines it is 45 to 50 decibels. This explains why everybody within one kilometre of a turbine is being offered a €5,000 payment. So rather than helping “to improve energy efficiencies”, the money is effectively to install triple-glazing to block the noise out from one’s house. Will windows have to be kept permanently closed? Will bursts of cool fresh air carrying the scent of flowers and trees inside be a thing of the past? But what about outside? What about farming, walking, gardening, even burying our dead in the local graveyards of Killary and Castletown? The background noise will no longer be of birds or of animals, but the 24/7 whirring sound of the turbines.

There may be a few short-term winners in this unhappy saga. With farming being so volatile, one can understand how securing €25,000/annum/turbine is so attractive. But ultimately, we are all losers. Our mental and physical well-being is no longer secure.

A once beautiful countryside of rolling hills and fields with divine sunsets will be impaled by metallic monstrosities. Where peace once prevailed, now a constant noise. This is not a fabrication or a figment of our imagination. This will be the new reality.

It is clear that not only has Element Power not read its own reports, but neither has Patrick Donohoe. And more to the point, while this is north Meath’s problem today, it could be yours tomorrow.