CONCERNS: 150 Sliabh Luachra residents attended a public meeting to highlight concerns to the proposed construction of a battery compound in their area.

Residents against battery compound plan to join forces

By Sean Moriarty

Communities across east and north Kerry are to join forces and protest outside Kerry County Buildings -to strengthen their opposition to battery storage compounds in their areas.

On Monday, July 15, residents from the Sliabh Luachra area, who are fighting plans for a 40 unit battery storage compound in their area, will team up with other groups in Kerry who are also fighting the same plans in their areas – as they fear for their health, afraid that the batteries could catch fire, explode or overheat if the compound gets the go ahead.

Last week, An Bord Pleanála upheld objections to the project, allowing applicant Redfaze Ltd., to go ahead with the their plans.

An Bord Pleanála also recently gave the go-ahead for a battery storage compound to serve a wind-farm at Muingnaminnane in the Stacks area northeast of Tralee.

On Wednesday night last, the defiant east Kerry residents held a meeting which was attended by over 150 concerned locals from the area, opposing plans for the 40 battery storage units, equipment and transformers in Ballynahulla - three kilometres from the village of Ballydesmond.

They will also start a fundraising campaign to help pay for High Court proceedings.

“Our next step is to raise funds to pay for the High Court proceedings,” spokesperson Anita O’Sullivan, told the Killarney Advertiser.

“One of the things that came out of this meeting is that all the community groups in Kerry who are fighting these developments should come together and be heard nationally. We will still have to fight our own corner locally, but if we all shout together then they will hear us,” she said.

“The last protest held was intentionally a silent protest to represent our voices being silenced, this time it will not be a silent protest.”