Environmental campaigner fails in challenge to weather mast at wind farm

An environmental campaigner has failed in a High Court challenge to overturn An Bord Pleanala's decision to permit a weather mast at a wind farm in Co Cavan. Val Martin, a farmer and environmental campaigner resident near the Raragh Wind Farm at Corrinshigo, sought judicial review of the board's October 2020 approval for completion of a meteorological mast at an alternative location on the five-turbine site. Mr Martin contended that permission should not have been granted without an Environmental Impact Assessment, given the mast's relocation from its originally specified position. He also argued that two public notices should have been displayed near the proposed mast location. Mr Justice Cian Ferriter rejected these submissions, finding that substantial grounds had not been established to grant leave for judicial review. The judge held that the board and its inspector had not erred in determining that an EIA was unnecessary, stating their findings were unimpeachable in law.