Cathaoirleach Orla Leyden has welcomed an announcement from Coillte that they will not be entering into option agreements for Coillte lands with third party developers (including ABO WIND) in the Castlecoote/Donamon/Creggs area.
Cllr. Leyden confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) that Senator Terry Leyden received an email from Mark Foley, MD Coillte confirming that the company would not be “entering into option agreements for Coillte lands with third party developments”. The announcement comes after Collite’s decision to procure a strategic partner to assist with the company’s development programme in the period 2030 and beyond.
Coillte’s Managing Director also also gave assurances that his team in Land Solutions, as well as colleagues in Coillte Forest “will continue to engage with local communities on specific local project opportunities, as such arise” and that the “relevant expert in the Coillte Forest Recreation Team” would make contact with Cllr. Leyden regarding an Off Road Cycle Trail which had already been proposed for the area.
Senator Leyden said that the response was clear and that the community could continue in confidence with their alternative tourism recreational plans for the area.
Cllr. Orla Leyden said that this was great news for the local community who are actively working on positive sustainable development projects for the area. She added that the Castlecoote Donamon Creggs Rural Tourism and Environmental Action Group was formed after Cllr. Ivan Connaughton and herself called an emergency public meeting in Castlecoote last February when the threat of an industrial wind farm emerged.
She said that the group has continued to meet on a regular basis and that work has already commenced on a number of alternative proposals to the wind farm.
Cllr. Leyden concluded by saying: “This is a good news day for the Castlecoote Donamon Creggs Community and I will continue to work with Castlecoote Donamon Creggs Rural Tourism and Environmental Action group on realising the vision of positive sustainable tourism projects for the area in the coming months and years.”
