News

Toad Lane Concerts, Rochdale

Midweek Musical Delight at St Mary in the Baum!

Every Wednesday at 12:30pm, enjoy the Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts at the stunning Grade I listed St Mary in the Baum church, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ.

Admission is just £6. As a “not for profit” initiative, your entry fee and donations directly support talented musicians, the historic venue, and music resources.

For details, contact Dr. Joe Dawson: 01706 648872.

Note: There have been 1,162 concerts since taking over the council’s Music at Lunchtime in 2001. Justifying continuity in Rochdale’s year as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture.

Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

Wed 19/11/2025 – The Kell Wind Trio: Alastair Roberts flute, Geoffrey Smith clarinet & Ian Harvey bassoon

Here are the next events to whet your appetite.

    • Nov 26 – Notability mixed voice choir – piano Lesley Cavanagh

Previous Performance Reviews.

Wednesday 12th November 2025 -Liana Storey piano

On Monday at 7:02 am I received an email from the scheduled artiste for the coming Wednesday saying that she had to cancel because of Covid.

However, she was professional enough to arrange for a stand-in, one of her fellow masters-graduates at the RNCM, Japanese British pianist Liana Storey. Emails ensued through the morning between myself and Liana, who was on a train from Glasgow.

Born in Kansas City, USA in 2002 to a family of musicians, Liana began playing the piano at the age of four and studied at the International Center for Music at Park University, Missouri, performing from an early age.

After moving from Kansas City to Glasgow in 2010, Liana studied at the Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She passed her ABRSM Grade 8 piano exam at the age of twelve, winning a bursary for the highest mark for piano in Glasgow. Other awards included Young Pianist of the North International Piano Competition in 2014 and numerous piano categories at the Glasgow Music Festival. Most recently, she has won the RNCM Concerto Competition.

In 2020, she moved to Manchester and the RNCM where she completed her Undergraduate & master’s degrees and is now doing her Postgraduate Diploma and will perform at the Bridgewater Hall later next year. In the last six years she has given multiple performances of concertos with various orchestras, solo and chamber concerts, attended several international piano courses and performed in masterclasses with top class pianists.

With such a glittering c.v. it is perhaps no surprise that at two days’ notice she could produce a top-quality recital in a range of styles (completely from memory!) introduced and performed with mature aplomb.

Scarlatti’s Sonata in F sharp was a glittering start; a fitting celebration of the piano emerging as the dominant keyboard instrument over the harpsichord family. Liana clearly relished the heritage 1935 Challen Grand in St Mary’s acoustic.

This was followed by the three vividly contrasted movements of Pour le Piano by Debussy; an intelligent and passionate interpretation of Beethoven’s Sonata in E, Op. 109; and two of Rachmaninoff’s Moments Musicaux Op 16 – the profoundly sombre No 3 and insanely brilliant and bravura No 4. Not for the first time in this recital this appeared like a concerto minus the orchestra.

A glorious recital from a gifted and engaging performer.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Wednesday 5th November 2025 -Madeleine Brown piano (Cambridge University & RNCM)

Rochdale’s weekly lunchtime concerts at St Mary in the Baum provide a platform for local talent, choirs, schoolchildren as well as visiting star performers like today.

Prize winning Cambridge graduate (where she won the university Concerto competition) and RNCM (where she won the Gold Medal), Madeleine Brown captivated the audience with a marvellous piano recital. With her impressive list of past and present tutors and mentors and several international prizes, she looks set for great things. Indeed, the distinguished pianist Peter Donohue described her as having ‘the potential to become a major voice in the classical music world.’

With a charming and engaging manner, Madeleine introduced a fascinating programme containing some pieces which are seldom performed. The overall theme could be said to be about invention and variation on a number of levels.

Haydn’s classical Variations in F minor were delightfully played with agility and fluency. In contrast Janacek’s Sonata of 1905 took us on an emotional journey built on nationalistic elements such as speech rhythms. Three Preludes by Debussy were impressionistic variations with an improvisatory feel such as adapting Spanish guitar rhythms to evoke the story of an ‘Interrupted Serenade’.

The crowning glory of this sumptuous and varied recital was Franck ‘s monumental Prelude, Chorale and Fugue. Based on the forms of JS Bach, as one might expect from an eminent organist, Franck explored his equally impressive pianistic prowess to develop a masterwork in keyboard variations. Initial musical ideas expressed in the prelude, fantastical pianistic expansion of the chorale chords culminated in an extended fugue that linked everything together and made us feel that variation could be infinite. All this handled superbly by Madeleine and totally from memory.

But most significant of all was Madeleine’s brilliance at taking risks on the instrument to explore variations in technique and dynamics. Rarely do we hear such exquisite soft playing, which in turn added greater power to the crescendos and climaxes … and all of this on an unfamiliar heritage piano that she only had minutes to engage with before the concert.

A stunning and inspirational performance, well on the way to fulfilling Peter Donohue’s prophecy.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

October 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the October 2025 concert reviews

September 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the September 2025 concert reviews

August 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the August 2025 concert reviews

July 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the July 2025 concert reviews

June 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the June 2025 concert reviews

May 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the May 2025 concert reviews

April 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the April 2025 concert reviews

March 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the March 2025 concert reviews

Save Scout Moor Peat Bogs Petition

New Petition Launched by Local Resident

Sign the petition here:

Save Scout Moor Peat Bogs and Stop the Massive Wind Farm That Is About To Destroy It.

The following is taken from Change.org:

I am starting this petition as a concerned resident about something which appears to be a local issue but will have consequences for us all.

I live in north west England and we are currently surrounded by 3 wind farms. Planning permission has been submitted for an extension of the Scout Moor wind farm (Scout Moor 2) on the historic Cotton Famine Road, between Rochdale and Rossendale.

The proposed extension to the wind farm would be 17 or 18 new turbines so 43 or 44  in total for this wind farm alone. Each one of these new turbines would be twice the height of the existing turbines, making each one taller than Blackpool Tower.

At present the area is a large peat bog which would be destroyed and the carbon dioxide it currently holds would be released into the atmosphere. To support these massive structures enormous concrete bases would have to be installed with a colossal cost to the environment and new roads built to service the turbines.

All this development would also affect all the animals and birds which live on the moors and the many water courses which run across these hills to fill our reservoirs.  It is very controversial whether there could  possibly be any overall benefit from all this destruction, more likely it will do more harm than good.

In recent months some politicians have started to re-evaluate the benefits of wind farms as environmentally friendly and effective sources of electricity but this Labour government is desperate to reach “net zero” by 2030 and so our local politicians are backing this aim. Don’t let this happen before a government about turn because by then it will be too late.  This planning permission was refused in 2017 for good reason ~ please sign this petition to stop this destruction.

Thank you for signing please share as far and wide as possible.

You can sign the petition here: Save Scout Moor Peat Bogs and Stop the Massive Wind Farm That Is About To Destroy It.

Please watch this YouTube video

Note from RMNF

Some councillors appear to believe there is less opposition to Scout Moor 2 than to previous applications. This is difficult to understand – it’s the opposite of what we’re seeing on the ground.

We suspect many residents feel disempowered, believing objections are futile because Scout Moor 2 is being presented as a done deal. Yet frustration is growing. Many people are increasingly angry that both Rochdale and Rossendale councils seem determined to push this application through – regardless of the environmental cost, the impact on local amenity, or the consequences for our energy bills.

And it’s not just here, over the way in Calderdale there is massive opposition to the Calderdale Energy Park application, you can sign their petition to ban development on protected peat here.

Find more information at https://saynotoscoutmoor2.org.uk/

Do write to your councillor directly and let them know you are against this proposal and please copy us in at info@saynottoscoutmoor2.org.uk. You can find the full list of local councillors here.

Date for your diary

We’re holding another drop-in session at the Methodist Church in Norden on Thursday 27th November 2025, early evening.

Everyone’s welcome – especially if you currently support the proposal. If you feel strongly, come and tell us why. What are we missing?

Get involved

We have written a brief guide to WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP US which includes a variety of actions that you can take now, including how to make a donation to support our campaign.

Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside Organists’ Association (ORTOA)

ORTOA Celebrity Recitals at Rochdale Town Hall.

ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside Organists’ Association) was established in 1908. Latterly it has been made up of organists and music aficionados to support music in the area.

The organ in the town hall is renowned internationally. The committee consists of volunteers who, with the council officials, develop concerts by leading exponents to make the most of it.

Jonathan Scott is one of the leading organists of his generation and has charge of the Bridgewater Hall instrument amongst other accolades. He is the Honorary President of ORTOA and he also arranges concerts in his own right.

Admission £10 (concessions £8) concerts last one hour. Card or cash at the door or visit www.rochdaletownhall.co.uk/events or iao.org.uk/ortoa

ORTOA 2025 – events.

Concert Saturday at 3 pm October 11th – 2025 Brereton Memorial Concert featuring Darius Battiwalla.

The Brereton Memorial Fund (breretonfund.org.uk) was founded in memory of Philip and Gwen Brereton who died in December 2000. Throughout their lives they were volunteers for ORTOA, the Royal College of Organists and the Incorporated Association of Organists, where they organised the Annual Congress.

Darius Battiwalla took up the post of Leeds City Organist in 2017, programming the very successful Town Hall recital series and giving regular solo concerts. He is currently overseeing the renewal of the Leeds Town Hall organ. Recent performances include the recitals at the Cathedrals of Coventry, Lincoln, Ripon, and St Albans, as well as appearances with Collegium Vocale Gent in Ghent and Amsterdam, and the annual recital for the Royal College of Organists conferment of diplomas. In 2024 he was part of the premiere of a new work for four organs by James Wood commemorating the Great Storm of 1674, to be performed simultaneously by organists across Europe. He has recently released a CD, recorded by audiophile label Base2 Music, including the Whitlock Sonata and works by Fela Sowande and Percy Grainger. He has appeared as soloist with the Halle and London Philharmonic Orchestras, and is a regular orchestral organist and pianist for the BBC Philharmonic and Halle orchestras. As a pianist, he gives regular chamber concerts with members of the Manchester orchestras, and on the harpsichord he has played continuo with many UK orchestras and performed and broadcast harpsichord concertos: most recently soloist in Frank Martin’s Harpsichord Concerto for the Northern Ballet Theatre.

Darius teaches improvisation at the Royal Academy of Music and is teaching on this year’s Royal College of Organists summer course.

He promises a tantalising Programme:

    • Guilmant: Sonata 1 in D minor
    • Bach: Pastorale
    • Fela Sowande: Kyrie
    • Mendelssohn: “Prelude & Fugue” in E minor
    • Hollins: 3 pieces: Intermezzo; A Song of Sunshine; A Trumpet Minuet
    • Chaminade: Pierrette (Air de ballet)
    • Bizet: Farandole from l’Arlesienne

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Previous ORTOA Performance Reviews.

Tuesday 16 September 2025 at 2 pm -Alex Fishburn.

Alex Fishburn who remembered with affection playing here ten years previously, as a teenager. His enthusiasm was clear in his performance and introductions, which resulted in him saluting the instrument. It was great to see the promise of youth coming to fruition in his masterful playing.

From 2003 Alex was a chorister at Durham Cathedral, studying the piano and, in his final year, organ. He continued at Chetham’s School of Music before studying at the Royal College of Music. He has held many positions including Sub-Organist of Liverpool Cathedral.

Now a freelance musician, he combines his work at Henry Willis & Sons with concerts and accompaniment work around the North-West.

Outside of music, Alex’s interests include change-ringing, history and architecture.

He suited his programme to Rochdale’s renowned instrument well – Elgar’s mighty Sonata in G (Opus 28) received poor reviews at its first airing but in the Great Hall’s splendour the JJ Binns’ ‘mighty beast’ revealed its true glory. A majestic Allegro Maestoso got everyone’s attention, followed by a more relaxed and tuneful Allegretto. The Andante Espressivo had broad sweeping melodies so typical of the later Elgar whilst the Presto was brisk and jaunty.

Robert Schumann’s Four Sketches for Pedal-Piano (Op. 58) were interesting adaptations for organ of music for the unusual pedal-piano that explored colourful registrations.

Two wonderful numbers by Alexandre Guillmant followed from his Opus 15, the attractive Interlude in F and March on a Theme by Handel, making full use of the orchestral colours of our civic instrument.

Pierre Cholley’s Rumba sur les Grands Jeux was a riotous foot-tapper and its vigorous development of the countermelody steamed close to the fairground. Great fun.

An extra treat, dedicated to an old friend, the late David Birch, an ORTOA committee member, A Song of Sunshine by Hollins proved a poignant encore.

Given his association with the instrument and ORTOA, not to mention his fine playing, Alex was a highly appropriate performer to round off a successful mini season of Tuesdays at One!

Keep an eye on future times and days when the town hall and ORTOA find the best fit amongst so many other fantastic events at the town hall.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Wednesday 23 July 2025 at 2 pm -Jonathan Scott Summer Organ Spectacular.

If anyone deserves the title of superstar in the world of organ music, it is Jonathan Scott. As shown in the picture, the hall was packed at 2 pm on a Wednesday afternoon in July.

Trained at Chetham’s and the RNCM, USA and the Netherlands, Jonathan, now Associated Artist at the Bridgewater Hall also gave a live organ solo BBC Prom last year at The Royal Albert Hall.

What is more, Jonathan is one of the best players to present a programme that makes the most of Rochdale’s JJ Binns instrument, as he knows it so well and he is a skillful arranger choosing appropriately from a wide repertoire. He is one of those rare performers who has consummate ability and a popular touch able to engage readily with an audience. He skillfully introduced and guided us through the varied sounds and combinations at his disposal.

We began with Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March no. 4 using all of the instrument’s orchestral qualities. Followed by Handel’s Passacaglia from Suite No. 7, with the original harpsichord music adapted to great effect. Then the Italian countryside was gloriously painted, complete with a convincing storm, in Vivaldi’s Summer concerto from the Four Seasons. In contrast, we had the calm of Saint-Seans’ beautiful aria from Samson and Delilah.

Mendelssohn’s Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Holst’s Jupiter from the Planets again revelled in orchestral colour, epitomizing the town hall organ’s capacity to bring the sounds of the concert hall or opera house to the people.

More Handel, from his Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne also gave Jonathan the opportunity to point out the stained-glass portraits of British Royalty that surround the Great Hall, commenting that we had an outstanding instrument in an equally outstanding building.

The magnificent Widor Toccata crowned it all, incidentally, the only piece that wasn’t arranged by Jonathan.

An exquisite rendering of Puccini’s aria O mio babbino caro was a well-deserved encore that made a summer spectacular in so many ways.

You can see him again on 17 December 2025 for his Christmas offering. Book now to be sure of a place!

Jonathan is also the Honorary President of ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside Organists’ Association founded 1908) who continue their mission to promote organ music and the town hall instrument next on Tuesday 16 September at 1 pm Alex Fishburn (Liverpool Cathedral).

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Tuesday 15 July 2025 at 1 pm –  LEE LONGDEN Cinema Organist.

Rochdale’s internationally renowned Binns organ at the town hall was the star of the show in this delightful showbiz concert.

Lee Longden, a classically trained organist, pianist and conductor, branched out into jazz and popular music, and enjoyed a professional career as a performing musician and Musical Director. His work took him to many parts of the world, performing on land and at sea, in concert halls, theatres and cabaret and broadcasting on radio and television.

Lee returned to his first love today as a concert theatre organist after recovering from an illness. His engaging and enjoyable programmes are widely appreciated for their accessibility, variety and quality. Today was no exception.

He was delighted to have been invited to demonstrate Rochdale’s renowned civic organ’s great versatility. He said that he ‘believed the Binns turns its hand to anything’!

Although it does not have the bells and whistles or sound effects of a mighty Wurlitzer, nor does it rise through the floor, Lee used his considerable theatre and cinema skills to orchestrate imaginatively and make the most of the amazing instrumental colours and terrific bass stops. The musical choices and introductions were equally witty.

It was a case of no business like show business as famous Studio marches instantly propelled us into the world of cinema. Shirley Bassey’s Greatest Hits (entitled Shirley is Forever, as in Diamonds, get it?) had great rhythmic vitality and stirring bass and, A Walk in the Black Forest, and a Bossa Nova Selection had everyone’s feet tapping involuntarily. A Celebration of Sammy Davis Jr demonstrated superb vocal phrasing worthy of the legendary singer.

If the showbiz style was Reginald Dixon, then Lonely Ballerina was pure Mantovani and his exotic singing strings; twentieth century light music in glorious technicolour. Hollywood Blockbusters themes came thick and fast: A Bridge too Far, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Odd Couple, Born Free, Titanic, Harry Potter, the Magnificent 7, reliving those iconic cinematographic thrills. All we needed was the popcorn and interval choc ice.

This feast of movie magic came from the same musician and instrument just as capable of the gravitas of sacred or serious music of JS Bach or Widor’s Toccata – no wonder organists want to come and play Rochdale’s JJ Binns organ, a beacon of Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture 2025/6.

The sustained spontaneous applause from a delighted audience proved that this was an hour to remember – when the majestic giant clicked its heels.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

May 2025 ORTOA Concert Reviews.

250520 ORTOA Review Keith Hearnshaw

PRESS RELEASE – 29 October 2025

Major failures in local planning mean homes could be left uninhabitable1

Noise consultant identifies major health risk to local inhabitants due to Cubico’s proposed Scout Moor 2 windfarm development

The planning application for Scout Moor 22 is fundamentally flawed, deliberately manipulating a broken planning process, resulting in a risk to our health, wellbeing, climate, environment and heritage. It must be stopped. Here is why:

What even is the application? The applicant, Cubico3, want to install up to 17 turbines, each larger than Blackpool Tower, on Rooley Moor. Government planning advice4 requires a worst- case scenario to be evaluated, but Cubico are using this process to sidestep the need to be specific about their plans, in an attempt to rush through the development before the political mood changes.  We don’t know what turbines they want to install, we don’t know how noisy they are, we don’t know how efficient they are… there are simply too many unanswered questions for there to be a proper consultation.

Peat, peat, peat… The proposed development is on deep peat.  The LPAs know that, the applicant knows that, everybody knows that.  At least 140,000 cubic meters of peat (equivalent to 1,275 double decker buses) will be replaced by concrete if this scheme goes ahead.  This is the equivalent of around 30 sq km of rainforest! This also contravenes the LPAs own policies5 by a huge margin (which, sadly, we’ve already seen Rossendale Council do with Cubico’s recent meteorological mast approval). The policies to protect peat are there for a reason – it is good for us – it holds carbon, it holds water and prevents flooding, it is a natural habitat for a wealth of things that are good for our ecology.  You can see the damage that has been done to deep peat just installing the meteorological mast6.  The LPAs continue to demonstrate their inability to enforce planning rules even on this small and relatively simple development.

Experimenting with Residents’ Health – These would be some of the largest and most densely sited turbines in England, and the closest to residential dwellings.  It is clearly proven that turbine noise and shadow flicker are damaging to health.  Why is it ok to put Rochdale and Rossendale residents at risk?

Planning and Noise Expert Melvin Grosvenor, founding member of the Independent Noise Working Group, says “… should the proposed 180 metre turbines be consented, some of the homes in this local area will be at EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH RISK of being uninhabitable”

Amenity – Yes, we all know we’re not entitled to a view, but we are entitled to want to protect this beautiful countryside, our shared heritage, and our shared common land.  Elsie Blundell MP herself highlighted the importance of the Cotton Famine Road7 on Rooley Moor in her maiden speech in Parliament. This development will harm national trails and change the landscape forever.  Previous failed applications here have already been rejected for good planning reasons, including cumulative impact.

Conspiracy? The LPAs are ignoring their bill payers – the MPs are not addressing their constituents’ concerns, the Councillors are ignoring their electorate. Party politics and local council budgets8 are driving decision making to all of our detriment.

Whilst Cubico say this will generate “enough to power over 100,000 homes each year”, we say this generation is at enormous public cost9, and it will not power any homes when the wind isn’t blowing.

ACT NOW

We need your help to uphold processes, ensure policies are adhered to, ensure our elected Councillors and MPs are acting on our behalf, and to protect the moorland.  Find out more and sign up to get involved at https://saynotoscoutmoor2.org.uk/, or join us in Norden on 27 November 6pm to 8.30pm, at Norden Methodist Church.

For more information, press only:

Say No to Scout Moor 2: Steve Davison, info@saynotoscoutmoor2.org.uk,  07785 957 071

Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum CIC: Alan Rawsterne, info@rmnf.org.uk, 07970 715 904

Useful Links:

https://saynotoscoutmoor2.org.uk/

https://www.rmnf.org.uk/

Rochdale Council’s planning application consultation: Rochdale Consultation
Rossendale Council’s planning application consultation: Rossendale Consultation

Footnotes:

  1. Wexford wind farm must pay almost €1m towards legal costs of couple who won noise nuisance case
  2. Rochdale Council planning application reference “25/00680/FUL”, also on the Rossendale Council planning site: “2025/0267”
  3. Cubico UK Development (Wind 1) Limited, Company Number 15860283, is a newly incorporated company with no assets – it is part of a complex series of holding companies that make up Cubico’s investment and tax avoidance structure – with profits ultimately going to an teachers’ pension fund in Ontario, Canada.
  4. Cubico say that their application is being made under the “Rochdale Envelope” approach (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects – Advice Note Nine: Rochdale Envelope – GOV.UK) – which is designed to assess a worst case scenario when a scheme has not been fully designed, in order to accelerate obtaining planning permission. This should be transparent before and throughout the consultation, but it has not been mentioned, not even once, in the planning application or the Local Planning Authority communication with the consultees.
  5. An example of one of the policies the application contravenes, ENV7 prevents development on deep peat over 40cm. The majority of this development is on peat much deeper than 40cm
  6. Horrifying destruction of peat by Cubico
  7. Cotton Famine Road: https://www.rmnf.org.uk/area/cotton-famine-road/
  8. Rossendale Council have already accounted for the income from this development in their budgets, thereby giving the appearance of having pre-determined the outcome of the application
  9. The UK’s industrial electricity is by far the worlds’ most expensive, domestic is second highest in Europe

Cubico’s Peatland Destruction Exposed

Horrifying Destruction of Peat by Cubico “Sustainable” Investments

This video shows the before-and-after situation at Top of Leach, where Cubico Sustainable Investments recently erected a Metrology Mast to gather data in support of their planning application for Scout Moor 2 Wind Farm – a proposed expansion of the existing 27 turbines (each 100m high). The new proposal includes 17 turbines at 180m high, spanning Scout and Rooley Moors and intersecting the historic Cotton Famine Road.

The footage highlights a stark contrast between Cubico’s public commitments to sustainable development and the environmental impact of the mast installation. Observers have raised concerns that the works breached several planning conditions, most of which remain unresolved, and failed to uphold responsibilities to protect the moorland and its wildlife.

It’s often said that actions speak louder than words. In this case, Cubico’s conduct has drawn criticism from local residents and campaigners, who describe the approach as cavalier and lacking in transparency or accountability.

If this is the scale of disruption caused by a single mast, imagine the consequences of constructing the full wind farm – potentially involving the excavation of between 130,000 and 200,000 cubic metres of peat, a carbon-rich habitat of national importance.

Help stop the 180m Turbines on Rooley Moor – Here’s How:

Submit your objection to Rochdale Council.

Submit your objection to Rossendale Council.

To  donate, please visit our Crowdfunder page

For more information see SAY NO TO SCOUT MOOR 2

Music for the Many – Todmorden

Dates for your diaries, and a plea for volunteers.

Music for the Many is a charity founded in 2018 to provide instrumental tuition and other musical opportunities to children in our area. For more information see https://music4themany.com

Volunteers are needed to make cakes, serve tea, wash up, set out chairs, shake buckets. We’re also on the lookout for a social media whizz and website guru.

Dates coming up:

    • Friday 19th September 7.30pm – Fundraising concert at Fielden Hall – Get tickets HERE – Volunteers needed!
    • Saturday 20th September 1pm – Walsden Scarecrow Festival – members of our new Todmorden Youth Orchestra will be playing.
    • Saturday 20th September 6pm – Fundraising Ceilidh at Todmorden College – Get tickets HERE – Volunteers needed!
    • Tuesday 23rd September – the start of a week of fringe events leading up to the Pennine Guitar Festival.
    • Friday 26th – Sunday 28th September – the inaugural Pennine Guitar Festival! Please see https://music4themany.com/booking-ahead-for-pennine-guitar-festival-events/ for details. We have workshops and concerts galore and need lots and lots of volunteers!

To volunteer for any of these events, please email Jenny at: music4themany@gmail.com

Music for the Many (registered charity 1185526) is funded by your donations. You can make a one-off donation or set up a standing order of as little as £2 per month at www.justgiving.com/musicforthemany

Help Stop 180m Turbines on Rooley Moor

Submit Your Objection Today

We urgently need your help to oppose a planning application that threatens to irreversibly damage Rooley Moor and the surrounding moorland we all cherish.

The Scout Moor 2 Wind Farm proposal seeks to install 17 industrial-scale wind turbines, each 180 metres tall – taller than Blackpool Tower – across Rooley Moor and alongside the historic Cotton Famine Road. These structures would dominate the skyline and permanently alter the character of this cherished landscape. Visualisations from the planning application can be seen here: https://saynotoscoutmoor2.org.uk/visualisations-from-the-planning-application/

If approved, this development would cause irreversible harm to:

    • Green Belt & Common Land and protected moorland habitats, undermining protections meant to preserve open countryside.
    • Heritage landscapes, including sites of working-class and social history significance such as the Cotton Famine Road.
    • Peatlands, vital carbon stores that would be excavated and replaced with concrete and other alien materials, releasing stored carbon.
    • Public access and recreation, with impacts on footpaths and open access land.
    • Water management and peatland integrity, risking long-term environmental degradation, flooding and local water resilience.

Recent reports suggest that poorly planned wind developments may contribute to rising energy costs Wind farms to blame for rising energy bills, says Ofgem.

This proposal prioritises private commercial interests over public benefit, disregarding national and local planning protections – especially those safeguarding landscape character, biodiversity, heritage assets, and public access.

What you can do:

Submit an objection to Rochdale Council.

Submit an objection to Rossendale Council.

Objections must be submitted as soon as possible to be considered.

Share your concerns – mention impacts on landscape, heritage, biodiversity, access, and water. Personal stories and local knowledge make a real difference.

Example objections can be found here: https://publicaccess.rossendale.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=SZ0U9GND05V00

Spread the word – encourage neighbours, walking groups, and local organisations to respond. Every voice strengthens the case.

For more information and resources, visit https://saynotoscoutmoor2.org.uk/

Please email info@RMNF.org.uk if you would like help submitting your objection.

Thank you for standing with us to protect Rooley Moor’s heritage, ecology, and public access. Together, we can ensure this treasured landscape is safeguarded for future generations.

SM2 Wind Farm Application Now Live

The Scout Moor 2 wind farm planning application is now live on Rossendale Council’s website.

The application number is 2025/0267 – see the following link –

https://publicaccess.rossendale.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SZ0U9GND05V00

Rossendale’s head of planning has advised:

  • The validation process for this and any application we receive is undertaken in accordance with RBC’s Validation Checklist and the National Validation Checklist.
  • Issues relating to the impacts of the development are assessed through the application process and if further information is needed to assess the proposal, it will be requested during the course of the application.
  • If deficiencies in the scheme are identified, they would have to be addressed to the decision taker’s satisfaction.
  • Any significant changes to the Environmental Statement will require re-consultation.
  • We have sent the application to the Secretary of State and await to hear whether the application is to be called in.
  • Consultation is likely to start in early September when the Case Officer returns from annual leave.

Now is the time to read, inwardly digest and consolidate efforts to defeat this wind farm application.

Please show your support and spread the word.

Please print the poster below and display it in a visible, lawful spot – your window, local noticeboard, or community centre.

Protect Rooley Moor – Display Our Campaign Poster

SAY NO TO SCOUT MOOR2

As part of our ongoing campaign to protect the heritage, landscape, and ecology of Rooley Moor, we’ve created a poster to raise awareness of the proposed Scout Moor 2 wind farm planning application, and the serious concerns it presents. Click HERE to print the poster.

Cubico Sustainable Investments have submitted a planning application (soon to be made public) for seventeen 180m-high turbines. This industrial-scale development will do nothing to advance Net Zero, improve energy security, or reduce energy costs. What it will do is irreversibly damage a landscape of national significance.

📌 What you can do

Please print the poster and display it somewhere visible—your window, local noticeboard, community centre, or anywhere it might catch attention. Every poster helps amplify our message and demonstrate the strength of local opposition.
Please do not fly-post (i.e. attach posters to public property such as lampposts, bus stops, or street furniture). These will be removed and may result in a fine. Let’s keep our campaign respectful and within the law.

🌿 Why it matters

Rooley Moor is a cherished and irreplaceable landscape. The proposed development threatens:

    • The historic Cotton Famine Road
    • Green Belt and common land
    • Biodiversity, including priority habitats
    • Heritage assets and public access
    • The integrity of deep peat, a vital carbon sequestration store

We appreciate that not everyone shares our perspective. But for those who do, your voice matters. Protecting Rooley Moor contributes more meaningfully to Net Zero than Cubico’s engineered proposal. This application must be robustly challenged, and visible community support is essential.

🖨️ If you’d like help printing the poster, just reply to this email and we’ll make sure one is printed for you.

Thank you for standing with us. We are stronger together – and together, we can protect what matters.

Best regards,

(on behalf of the Say No to Scout Moor 2 campaign)