Planning the future rural community

Old diesel

Not sure if the title fully reflects what I want to say :eek:

But in the era of renewables - especially wind farms - and the need to work towards low carbon solutions and economy.

Im wondering how is the future of RURAL communities to be planned.

How do we design communities - and create a future that meets the needs of renewables solutions - wind farms especially - but also seeks to meet community needs as much as we can - while still keeping as many communities going as possible and been as fair to communities as the need to go renewables/meet targets and go low carbon will allow.

The challenge of Irelands current wind farm planning approach is that it looks at issues from one perspective only - getting as many turbines in as possible.

It doesn't look at what the future of Rural communities that get wind farms will be like (good, bad or indifferent) and doesn't look at everyday living within communities.

Some will say that's right and proper in the context of saving the world - but the question is - how do we adapt or redesign the Rural community to the renewables and low carbon era that we are entering into - while not creating a situation that simply because your from a community that's a host community for a wind farm - you are NO LONGER IMPORTANT and are seen as a 2nd class citizen - which is a real danger under the Irish approach to planning

I would be of the view that we need a land use strategy - looking at things like how much land and WHERE we need to make wind energy work the way we need or want it to - and how much space we need for PLEASANT community living (if that can be achieved)

The other question which pro wind people won't like - is how much should the renewables solution fit in with everyday pleasant community living.

Finally - if the Govt and Wind Developer argument is - Wind farms are "issue free for residents - they won't have issue" - that's great.

But how do we ensure that the promise of ISSUE FREE - from the residents viewpoint operation of a wind farm - is in fact what is delivered.

Is a solution to all of the above - to work to improve renewables solutions in the long term.

Or do we go more drastic - like this

10 communities - make 2 just wind farms - no longer communities - amalgamate those original communities - with 2 of the other 8 communities.

recedite

The typical wind farm is in the sea or on top of a mountain, not in the middle of a rural village.

robp

recedite wrote: »

The typical wind farm is in the sea or on top of a mountain, not in the middle of a rural village.

True but I'd almost prefer if it was the opposite. I don't mind turbines in agricultural areas but Ireland needs wild places.

Old diesel

recedite wrote: »

The typical wind farm is in the sea or on top of a mountain, not in the middle of a rural village.

Well not literally in the middle of the village I agree - but wind farms are/will be frequently coming near rural homes and villages.

Markcheese

Most wind farms aren't gonna be near villages, but could well be near one off houses, and as most (but not all) one offs in the middle of no where have/had no need to be there (but a desire to be in the country and a nice view) , do they have anymore right to be there than the turbines?
Slightly different with farmers/farm yards or if the turbines interfere with a rural business...
How wild can a wild place be if it's full of one off houses?

Old diesel

Markcheese wrote: »

Most wind farms aren't gonna be near villages, but could well be near one off houses, and as most (but not all) one offs in the middle of no where have/had no need to be there (but a desire to be in the country and a nice view) , do they have anymore right to be there than the turbines?
Slightly different with farmers/farm yards or if the turbines interfere with a rural business...
How wild can a wild place be if it's full of one off houses?

The one off house situation (whatever ones views on them are) show the need to PLAN the future Rural community - especially if your looking to have a community and wind turbines co existing together

The challenge is - how are people and wind energy going to both live in the rural community - how do we plan the living space - and the turbine space.

Because if we want to plan a long term future for the Rural community - we are going to have to plan the living of the people in it - in the same way we have to plan our energy

If we expect people to live near/with wind energy - the question is - how do we ensure its problem free.

Old diesel

To me part of the challenge that needs to be overcome - if we WANT to keep rural communities going - is to be able to design/plan solutions that work well for the community and its residents.

That shouldn't need to mean saying no to things - but rather it means that if a project is coming to the community - that we design it to fit in very well with the community and the everyday living of residents.

Of course we also need to make changes in the community where its needed - to accommodate projects that are needed in the local area - and perhaps some that are needed to help drive the country forward.

But I think its worth in that case - planning both the community living and the vital projects - so that both work together well - and one doesn't interfere with the other.

So the community living doesn't interfere with the renewable energy - and the renewable energy doesn't interfere with the residents in home living. That's where planning is vital - to ensure that the resident and the project can live happily in the same community.

There are massive challenges to try and achieve this however