August 14, 2010
England

Battle on again over turbine proposals

Todmorden News, www.todmordennews.co.uk 13 August 2010

Campaigners have vowed to fight the proposal for five 125 metre high wind turbines on Todmorden Moor.
After seeing the Coronation Power exhibition in the Town Hall recently the Todmorden Moor Restoration Trust has agreed to renew their opposition to the Todmorden Moor plans.
Last week the Todmorden News reported that the company had held the two-day exhibition last month at which leaflets and DVDs about their proposals and wind energy generally were given out and there was the chance to ask questions.
But Mrs Sarah Pennie, for TMRT, said: “There was just a little map available at the exhibition to show us where the turbines and roadways would be.
“”But it seems that the only obvious change from the previous application is the amount of moorland the construction will take this time.”
She said the Todmorden Moor turbines were refused permission at a public Inquiry last year because Coronation Power had not applied for enough land to allow for the huge vehicles the contractors would bring on to the moor during construction.
Coronation Power has now accepted that the construction of the wind farm access along Flower Scar Road and across the moor would require more than twice as much land as in their first application in 2007, said Mrs Pennie.
Members of the Restoration Trust were not surprised that a new application is about to be put in to Calderdale.
“We knew this was coming, but it’s like a slow torture for those of us who care about the peat moorland. Coronation Power had their first exhibition in Todmorden in 2006. We have already had four years fighting but we have vowed to continue.
“The irony is that, just when Todmorden Moor is recovering well from the damage caused by past industries, a new industry arrives to dig it up all over again.
“And this time the damage from wide construction roads and concrete would cover a much bigger area that the old clay and mine industries,” said Mrs Pennie.
After a five week Planning Appeal last year, permission was given by the then Secretary of State for eight turbines on Crook Hill above Walsden, and three on Reaps Moss.
It was then necessary for Coronation Power to apply at another inquiry to deregister the common land they need for construction on those two moors.
The result of that inquiry is not yet known.
If the common land inquiry goes in favour of Coronation Power they will already have permission for eleven giant turbines above Todmorden.
“But local people have fought them all they way. It has taken four years so far, and it is costing them dear”, said Mrs Pennnie, who now plans to contact all the people who objected last time, and many new people as well, to get objections to Calderdale Council when the time comes.
She said there was also a plan for eight huge modern turbines to replace the wind farm already at Coal Clough above Cornholme.
This plan is with Burnley Council which hopes to make a decision by the end of this year.
“If the turbines are built over on Coal Clough there would be wind farms north and south of Todmorden Moor – a long line of industrial structures from Shore to Littleborough.
“There is no doubt that the developers’ rush for on-shore wind power has already had a big impact on the Todmorden area. It has to stop somewhere and Todmorden Moor is a step too far,” she said.
As soon as TMRT has seen the detailed plans that form the planning application they will prepare a fact sheet and distribute leaflets so people that want to can send their objections to the council, said Mrs Pennie.
Meanwhile TMRT can be contacted for information on 01706 559971, or by email on r.pennie@tiscali.co.uk.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/14/battle-on-again-over-turbine-proposals/