Decision made on wind farm planned in Laois Reporter: A windfarm planned for Laois has been refused permission by Laois County Council today. Statkraft had applied to build eight wind turbines 185 metres tall, in the Forest Upper, Forest Lower and Dernacart rural area outside Mountmellick, off the N80 Tullamore road. Their plans received many local objections from residents. Minister Sean Fleming had sent a submission against the development saying it was against World Health Organisation guidelines, it would make large tracts of land uninhabitable for housing, and could impact on Mountmellick's flood risk. The Department of Heritage said the impact on the hen harrier bird of prey was not adequately assessed. Laois ornithologist Ricky Whelan also noted that the development is beside Bord na Mona's decomissioned Garryhinch bog which he said is possibly the largest hen harrier nesting site in the country.