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Limerick turbines 'hitting television reception'
THE new 18-turbine windfarm at Tournafulla is interfering with television reception in the Ballycommane area, according to RTE Transmission Network Ltd (RTENL) bosses.
And RTE says that responsibility for the problem rests 100 per cent with the commercial developer.
RTE was also critical of the planning permission procedures.
Mick Kehoe, executive director with RTENL, has written to Deputy Jimmy Deenihan explaining that viewers in the Ballycummane / Tournafulla area receive their television signals from the transmitter in Maghera in Clare, and that the windfarm is directly in line with the transmitter.
"As a result, television reception is affected by the wind turbines," he said.
An RTE engineer went to the affected areas and was told that some viewers had been offered a year's subscription to Sky by the windfarm developer.
"Most were unhappy with this as it was a short term solution and was depriving them of the free-to-air services that they had become accustomed to and are entitled to," wrote Mr Kehoe.
"Construction of windfarms and other large structures and buildings is totally outside of RTENL's control, and it is, therefore, necessary that developers and those granting planning permission take full account of all possible impacts before proceeding with their projects. RTENL has worked with windfarm developers across Ireland to assist them in avoiding and rectifying TV and radio reception problems," he said.
"As you can appreciate, developers are undertaking projects that are for commercial profit and it is fair and reasonable that they are held responsible for any disruption that they cause. This includes disruption to TV and radio signals. Sometimes it takes time to agree a way forward with the developers. However the responsibility rests 100 per cent with the commercial developer.
"As well as the viewers and listeners, RTENL are also a victim in the situation as the windfarm developer has built an obstruction between RTENL and our customers."
Mr Keogh said that RTENL is continuing to work on the problem, but has been unable to identify the developer of the windfarm.
Deputy Deenihan told the Limerick Leader that the local people were correct to object to the one year Sky offer because they would have to pay out of their own pockets as soon as the 12 months were up.
He will, he said, continue to pursue the matter.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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Light rain
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