February 3, 2007
U.K.

Wind farm work starts

Work has started on the controversial 26-turbine wind farm on Scout and Knowl Moors.

Plans for the farm, on the Rossendale/Rochdale border, prompted fierce opposition from residents, environmentalists and borough and county councils, when they were announced in 2004, and the protest led to a public inquiry.

When the Secretary of State approved the plans, campaigners did not give up the fight, and celebrity botanist David Bellamy led a protest march last year, while Rossendale MP Janet Anderson continued to lobby the government.

A final attempt was then made by Edward Smethurst, a solicitor from Norden, but he halted his judicial review when he realised it could not succeed.

Now, developers Peel Wind Power Ltd, part of the Peel Holdings Group, has started work.

Turbines will not be delivered for another 12 months, but access tracks are being prepared, and work will begin on the turbine foundations.

The wind farm will become fully operational in the summer of 2008.

Peel say it will produce enough green electricity to supply around 40,000 homes and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by 166,000 tonnes each year.

Director Richard Brewster said: “Peel are committed to developing clean and renewable sources of energy and we are pleased work on Scout Moor wind farm is under way.

“We are aware some local residents have concerns regarding the impact of the project, but Peel remain committed to ensuring disruption to local residents during construction and the operational life of the wind farm is minimal.”

By Telegraph newsdesk

lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/02/03/wind-farm-work-starts/