Copyright 2003 Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News

December 19, 2003

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 31

LENGTH: 287 words

HEADLINE: A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a giant £50m wind farm near Rochdale
will go to a public inquiry.

BYLINE: by don frame

BODY:
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a giant £50m wind farm near Rochdale will go
to a public inquiry. The scheme for Scout Moor has already caused uproar
among local communities, and all three councils affected have now rejected
it out of hand. The project, which would involve building 26 turbines, each
two-thirds the size of Blackpool Tower, was first turned down by both
Lancashire county and Rossendale borough councils. This week, Rochdale
council unanimously voted against the plan, which local people say would be
a blot on the landscape. But the independent inquiry is unlikely to be held
until well into next year. It could last up to two months, and the inspector
appointed to hear evidence will then make a recommendation to Trade and
Industry Secretary Patrica Hewitt. Paul Bradburn, of the campaigning group
Friends of Scout Moor, said: "We are pleased that Rochdale has shown its
opposition so strongly, but there is a long way to go.

"We have already launched a fighting fund, as obtaining the services of a
barrister to fight our corner at a full public inquiry will not be cheap."
United Utilities, which with developer Peel Holdings is behind the plan,
says it expected the three local authorities to vote against it.

But Paul Hunt, project manager for the Scout Moor wind farm, said: "We feel
they have missed the opportunity to be at the forefront of renewable energy
development which could make the county one of the greenest in the north
west. "Winds farms are an essential part of the government's renewable
energy target."

Last month, green campaigner David Bellamy led hundreds of people on to the
moors in a mass protest against the plan. don.frame@men-news.co.uk



LOAD-DATE: December 19, 2003