September 22, 2006
U.K.

Second wind for turbines campaign

A campaign to stop a controversial wind farm being built on moorland on the Yorkshire-Lancashire border is being relaunched after a power company appealed to the Government to allow the scheme to go ahead.

A plan to build seven giant 350ft-high wind turbines on Saddleworth Moor was thrown out by councillors earlier this year because they felt it would damage the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

But energy firm E.ON UK appealed against the decision made by Oldham Council and the application will be decided by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate at a hearing next year.

The Saddleworth Moors Action Group originally fought the plan, and a public meeting has been called next month so campaigners can prepare for the appeal.

Phil Woolas, Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, and Saddleworth parish councillor John Hudson will be among those addressing the meeting.

It takes place on Friday, October 6 at 7.30pm at the Delph Club, in Gartside Street, Delph.

Saddleworth parish councillor Ken Hulme, one of the organisers of the meeting said: “We had around 3,000 objectors to the plan in February but now we need to redouble our efforts.”

Coun Hudson was on the planning committee which rejected the original plans but he has since stepped down from Oldham Council.

Phil Canning, senior project developer for E.ON UK Renewables, said: “We were obviously disappointed with the original decision. Since then we’ve completed an independent review of the reasons for refusal and of our grounds for appeal.

“We have taken great steps to minimise impact on the local community.”

The company claims the development would power 8,000 homes and save 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

John Roberts

john.roberts@ypn.co.uk

yorkshiretoday.co.uk


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/09/22/second-wind-for-turbines-campaign/