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BATTLING on ... Denise McGowan inspecting the proposed Rossendale site with MEP Sir Robert Atkins and Rossendale’s prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate Jake Berry.
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The fight to halt windfarms goes on
Diane Leach23/ 8/2008
A DATE has been set for the planning appeal for two windfarms above Shawforth and Bacup.
The plans by Coronation Power to site turbines on Reaps Moss, which were refused by Rossendale councillors last November, will be determined in a appeal starting on 17 February next year.
In addition the planning inspector will determine two other applications by the company; one for Crook Hill, Littleborough and a second for Todmorden Moor, above Sharneyford.
These two proposals, on Rochdale and Calderdale council land, have not been refused, but Coronation Power managing director Vickram Mirchandani has said the authorities have taken too long over making a decision.
He welcomed the appeal, set down for three to four weeks at Rochdale Rugby Club, Bamford.
Mr Mirchandani said: "I think Rossendale has not quite understood that climate change is a serious problem and they have responsibilities to do something about it.
"They have targets for renewable energy and have failed to demonstrate they care they have a target.
"In my opinion, this is a local council saying, ‘Sorry, it is not our problem’."
Denise McGowan from Friends of the South Pennines said the group will be represented at the inquiry
She said the development of a wind factory above the hills of Rossendale had the potential to cause significant damage to the ecology of the area, which sustains deep peat and blanket bog species of international importance.
She said: "We do not believe the benefits of carbon reductions will be outweighed by the harmful impact to the local environment and community if an area of deep peat is disturbed.
"The whole development site is also underlain by mine shafts, some charted and some unknown. Any attempts to grout up or cement pile voids could have a knock-on effect on the spring water supplies to dwellings in the area."
Mrs McGowan added that in the face of rocketing energy prices, more people were becoming aware of the generous subsidies to fund windfarm developments, which could end up costing each average customer £400 per year.
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