Government green light for Crook Hill wind farm

Photo: Jan Harwood

Wind farm turbine.

The Government’s Planning Inspectorate has given the go ahead for the development of controversial wind farms at Crook Hill and at other locations in the South Pennines.

The Pennines Township Planning Subcommittee and the Borough's Regulatory Committee turned down the Crook Hill planning application last year but it has now been given the green light after an appeal by developers Coronation Power.

The decision has been taken by Secretary of State for the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn MP, and Coronation Power can now go ahead and construct wind farms at Crook Hill, Todmorden Moor and Reaps Moss.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has slammed the decision, branding it 'environmental vandalism'.

He said: “I am disappointed at this decision and sorry for the campaigners who have worked so hard to stop this environmental vandalism. The effect on our natural habitat at Crook Hill will be devastating. The South Pennine environment will never be the same again and I am desperately disappointed.

"I have been to Crook Hill on many occasions during this lengthy campaign and am now worried about the affect to local roads, industries and services in Calderbrook and other local areas during the construction phase.”

Paul continued, “Many people live close to these proposed monstrosities and the views that they came here for will be destroyed forever. It is true that we need to look at increasing renewable energy but these are expensive symbols that do little to contribute to our energy supply. A planning system is flawed when it allows such wanton destruction of our valued moorland. This is a dreadful decision and unfortunately it is irreversible!”

Coronation Power won the appeal against Rochdale Council's decision to refuse planning permission for the Crook Hill wind farm, Rossendale Council's decision to refuse planning permission for the Reaps Moss windfarm, and the failure of Calderdale Council to give notice of decisions on applications for windfarms at all three sites within the prescribed period.