Operators of wind farms in Kildare should be forced to plant trees around sites

Cllr Mark Lynch has called for a clear policy from Kildare County Council for solar energy and win farms within the county.

The Sinn Fein politician said visual impact concerns and possible environmental impacts of farms should be fully considered.

Cllr Lynch said that the wind turbines and solar farms and associated buildings should be 'fully shielded from homes, vantage points and public roadways.'

He added: "Thick native trees and/or hedging should be considered as the best and most appropriate visual covering.

"Also considered should be planting/maintaining an appropriate cluster eco-area of new plant/current native woodland to a % of each solar farm.

"So that a thirty acre solar farm should have one single cluster woodland area of 7% of the site to counter the environmental loss of trees/hedging/grass/peatland on the construction of the farms."

Cllr Lynch will raise the issue at Kildare Co Council's next monthly meeting.