Save Knock Iveagh Legal Fund
Donation protected
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We all want to believe that the places and heritage we love will be protected by somebody else for our children to enjoy. The UKs most important heritage sites benefit from protection by law and are supposed to be kept safe by our government bodies for the benefit of everyone. One such place is the ancient Neolithic burial site at Knock Iveagh. The burial site (cairn) has been the dominating feature of the landscape around Knock Iveagh since Neolithic times (it is older than the pyramids) and it sits on a even older layer of ash and bone! Unfortunately it looks like our public bodies have dropped the ball because both it, and the landscape which it dominates, is under terrible threat.
Our public bodies have the power to save Knock Iveagh and it is up to us to make sure they do so. That is why we are asking for your contribution to this important fight. Legal advice costs money, but this is a fight we can and must win.
Knock Iveagh is a hill outside Rathfriland in Co Down which is the setting for a Neolithic Round Cairn (ritual and burial place) dating back to beyond 3000BC. The cairn measures 100ft in diameter and is 10ft tall. It is visible as a lump on the skyline of the hilltop from miles away. The cairn was located in this position in order that it be the most dominant feature of the hillside. As a likely place of inauguration the surrounding 360 degree views of the landscape would also have been key. Leading archaeologists have studied the site in more depth over the past few months and it appears likely that Knock Iveagh is at the centre of a ritual landscape of importance for the whole of Ireland. It is believed that Royal inaugurations took place at Knock Iveagh, as well as other ritual activities stretching over millennia. Knock Iveagh was regarded as a 'sacred mountain' by the Uíbh Eachach Coba tribe and later by the Magennis Lords of Iveagh.
Without the knowledge of local residents, a huge WIND TURBINE was granted permission at Knock Iveagh back in 2013. It was installed in November (just 10m shy of the summit) under cover of darkness. The planning process was flawed and statutory consultation with government archaeologists did not take place. Bizarrely for a wind turbine, the application was STREAMLINED, a process usually reserved for minor changes such as garage conversions. Despite the pubic outcry, no explanation for this has ever been provided. If the correct consultation process had been followed it is very unlikely that permission would ever have been granted for the turbine. We know this because in September of 2017, a broadband mast was installed without permission at Knock Iveagh and following a public outcry, a retrospective application for planning permission was rejected by Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Council. The turbine is in breach of all of the same Planning regulations as the mast, and worse still the site is accessed by a road built without planning permission. Unbelievably, despite being in an archaeologically sensitive area, no plans were submitted nor permission given in advance for more than 2km of 'earthing' trenching dug all over Knock Iveagh.
Since discovering these issues last year, the Friends of Knock Iveagh, supported by Annaclone Historical Society, have been working to try to protect Knock Iveagh. Expressions of support have been received from all sides of the political spectrum and a petition calling for the site to be protected currently has over 2000 signatures here https://www.change.org/p/save-knock-iveagh
It is our understanding that Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council can discontinue permission for the turbine at ANY TIME but as yet has chosen not to do so. At the time of writing (March 2017) the Friends of Knock Iveagh believe that a meeting is imminent between the Department for Infrastructure (who are the government body ultimately responsible for the original decision) and ABC Council. Our democratically elected councillors have yet to have an opportunity to vote on or formally express their views on this matter.
Since this situation came to light in September last year, the Friends of Knock Iveagh, a group of concerned residents from the area, have been working tirelessly to raise the profile of this case, and lobby the relevant public bodies. The Friends also note that planning failures like this are far from unique in Northern Ireland - it is simply that on this occasion - 'they picked the wrong hill' - and the errors of process have been brought to the fore. The tragic reality is that month by month, poor Planning decisions are being made all over NI to the detriment of our legally protected built and natural environment and heritage.
The Friends of Knock Iveagh have received excellent legal advice to assist in this journey which has been utterly invaluable to date. This crowdfunding website has been set up to help raise funds to pay for legal costs to protect this important site and we are asking for your support.
Please visit the Save Knock Iveagh website for more information on our fabulous FREE DRAW
https://saveknockiveagh.weebly.com/fundraising. There are lots of wonderful gifts donated by members of our local community.
More information about the background to this situation and our serious concerns about the processes which have been followed by the public bodies which have the duty and responsibility to protect this site is given below.
Some of the concerns we have about the planning process for the turbine include the following points. This is not an exhaustive list.
1/ It appears that the application for a wind turbine was STREAMLINED. The Friends of Knock Iveagh cannot understand how a site beside a scheduled historic monument could ever have been considered an appropriate site for a streamlined application?
2/ Both HED and Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Council have confirmed to the Friends that there was no consultation with Historic Environment Department prior to permission being granted. Since the turbine is beside a scheduled site and greatly affects the setting of the monument by replacing it as the most dominant feature in the landscape, it is our understanding that the HED should have been consulted.
3/ Why does a 2013 Professional Planning Report in relation to the turbine note that “There are no built heritage interests at this site” when there is a protected Scheduled monument on the hill?
4/ Knock Iveagh is singled out and mentioned numerous times as being a location unsuitable for wind development. Planningni guidance on wind farms (which mentions Knock Iveagh 11 times) states that ‘Particular care should be taken to avoid adverse impacts on areas with memorable long distance views to the Mournes and Sperrins eg Knock Iveagh summit.'
5/ Publicly available information from the NI Planning Portal also suggests that the nearest neighbours were unaware of plans for a wind turbine until very recently. The Friends of Knock Iveagh believe that until very recently the general public were entirely unaware of the plans for a turbine on this protected site. Given the enormous upset and community engagement since the plans were uncovered it is very clear that had reasonable and proper consultation taken place at the time, the turbine application would have been robustly opposed.
If allowed to proceed, these developments will utterly destroy the setting and environment of this magical historical place. We cannot let our shared heritage be destroyed and we must ensure that the public bodies with the duty to protect it step up to the mark and do their jobs. If mistakes have been made, it is their job to put things right and we want to make sure they do.
For more information please visit our website: www.saveknockiveagh.weebly.com
nb: ****This page replaces the previous GoFundMe page - https://gofundme.com/saveknockiveagh - which has been taken down for personal reasons. Every penny donated through that page has gone to its intended cause (less the GoFundMe fees of 2.5% plus £0.20 per donation).****
We all want to believe that the places and heritage we love will be protected by somebody else for our children to enjoy. The UKs most important heritage sites benefit from protection by law and are supposed to be kept safe by our government bodies for the benefit of everyone. One such place is the ancient Neolithic burial site at Knock Iveagh. The burial site (cairn) has been the dominating feature of the landscape around Knock Iveagh since Neolithic times (it is older than the pyramids) and it sits on a even older layer of ash and bone! Unfortunately it looks like our public bodies have dropped the ball because both it, and the landscape which it dominates, is under terrible threat.
Our public bodies have the power to save Knock Iveagh and it is up to us to make sure they do so. That is why we are asking for your contribution to this important fight. Legal advice costs money, but this is a fight we can and must win.
Knock Iveagh is a hill outside Rathfriland in Co Down which is the setting for a Neolithic Round Cairn (ritual and burial place) dating back to beyond 3000BC. The cairn measures 100ft in diameter and is 10ft tall. It is visible as a lump on the skyline of the hilltop from miles away. The cairn was located in this position in order that it be the most dominant feature of the hillside. As a likely place of inauguration the surrounding 360 degree views of the landscape would also have been key. Leading archaeologists have studied the site in more depth over the past few months and it appears likely that Knock Iveagh is at the centre of a ritual landscape of importance for the whole of Ireland. It is believed that Royal inaugurations took place at Knock Iveagh, as well as other ritual activities stretching over millennia. Knock Iveagh was regarded as a 'sacred mountain' by the Uíbh Eachach Coba tribe and later by the Magennis Lords of Iveagh.
Without the knowledge of local residents, a huge WIND TURBINE was granted permission at Knock Iveagh back in 2013. It was installed in November (just 10m shy of the summit) under cover of darkness. The planning process was flawed and statutory consultation with government archaeologists did not take place. Bizarrely for a wind turbine, the application was STREAMLINED, a process usually reserved for minor changes such as garage conversions. Despite the pubic outcry, no explanation for this has ever been provided. If the correct consultation process had been followed it is very unlikely that permission would ever have been granted for the turbine. We know this because in September of 2017, a broadband mast was installed without permission at Knock Iveagh and following a public outcry, a retrospective application for planning permission was rejected by Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Council. The turbine is in breach of all of the same Planning regulations as the mast, and worse still the site is accessed by a road built without planning permission. Unbelievably, despite being in an archaeologically sensitive area, no plans were submitted nor permission given in advance for more than 2km of 'earthing' trenching dug all over Knock Iveagh.
Since discovering these issues last year, the Friends of Knock Iveagh, supported by Annaclone Historical Society, have been working to try to protect Knock Iveagh. Expressions of support have been received from all sides of the political spectrum and a petition calling for the site to be protected currently has over 2000 signatures here https://www.change.org/p/save-knock-iveagh
It is our understanding that Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council can discontinue permission for the turbine at ANY TIME but as yet has chosen not to do so. At the time of writing (March 2017) the Friends of Knock Iveagh believe that a meeting is imminent between the Department for Infrastructure (who are the government body ultimately responsible for the original decision) and ABC Council. Our democratically elected councillors have yet to have an opportunity to vote on or formally express their views on this matter.
Since this situation came to light in September last year, the Friends of Knock Iveagh, a group of concerned residents from the area, have been working tirelessly to raise the profile of this case, and lobby the relevant public bodies. The Friends also note that planning failures like this are far from unique in Northern Ireland - it is simply that on this occasion - 'they picked the wrong hill' - and the errors of process have been brought to the fore. The tragic reality is that month by month, poor Planning decisions are being made all over NI to the detriment of our legally protected built and natural environment and heritage.
The Friends of Knock Iveagh have received excellent legal advice to assist in this journey which has been utterly invaluable to date. This crowdfunding website has been set up to help raise funds to pay for legal costs to protect this important site and we are asking for your support.
Please visit the Save Knock Iveagh website for more information on our fabulous FREE DRAW
https://saveknockiveagh.weebly.com/fundraising. There are lots of wonderful gifts donated by members of our local community.
More information about the background to this situation and our serious concerns about the processes which have been followed by the public bodies which have the duty and responsibility to protect this site is given below.
Some of the concerns we have about the planning process for the turbine include the following points. This is not an exhaustive list.
1/ It appears that the application for a wind turbine was STREAMLINED. The Friends of Knock Iveagh cannot understand how a site beside a scheduled historic monument could ever have been considered an appropriate site for a streamlined application?
2/ Both HED and Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Council have confirmed to the Friends that there was no consultation with Historic Environment Department prior to permission being granted. Since the turbine is beside a scheduled site and greatly affects the setting of the monument by replacing it as the most dominant feature in the landscape, it is our understanding that the HED should have been consulted.
3/ Why does a 2013 Professional Planning Report in relation to the turbine note that “There are no built heritage interests at this site” when there is a protected Scheduled monument on the hill?
4/ Knock Iveagh is singled out and mentioned numerous times as being a location unsuitable for wind development. Planningni guidance on wind farms (which mentions Knock Iveagh 11 times) states that ‘Particular care should be taken to avoid adverse impacts on areas with memorable long distance views to the Mournes and Sperrins eg Knock Iveagh summit.'
5/ Publicly available information from the NI Planning Portal also suggests that the nearest neighbours were unaware of plans for a wind turbine until very recently. The Friends of Knock Iveagh believe that until very recently the general public were entirely unaware of the plans for a turbine on this protected site. Given the enormous upset and community engagement since the plans were uncovered it is very clear that had reasonable and proper consultation taken place at the time, the turbine application would have been robustly opposed.
If allowed to proceed, these developments will utterly destroy the setting and environment of this magical historical place. We cannot let our shared heritage be destroyed and we must ensure that the public bodies with the duty to protect it step up to the mark and do their jobs. If mistakes have been made, it is their job to put things right and we want to make sure they do.
For more information please visit our website: www.saveknockiveagh.weebly.com
nb: ****This page replaces the previous GoFundMe page - https://gofundme.com/saveknockiveagh - which has been taken down for personal reasons. Every penny donated through that page has gone to its intended cause (less the GoFundMe fees of 2.5% plus £0.20 per donation).****
Organizer
Becks Imber
Organizer