Manchester, cotton and transatlantic slavery.

The Science and Industry Museum are planning an exhibition that will open in 2027.

For more information click HERE

Here is the latest edition of the Lancashire Local History Federation newsletter for February 2025

LLHF newsletter Feb 2025

RMNF says “No” to Scout Moor 2 Wind Farm

At our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 30^th January 2025 a proposal was put forward for Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum (RMNF) to be against future development of the moorland in and around our neighbourhood area. The meeting participants were unanimous in the conclusion that the Scout Moor 2 Wind Farm development as proposed will mark the permanent destruction of Rooley Moor, the Cotton Famine Road and the other heritage assets on it and at its fringe. The RMNF trustees were very clear they are NOT against appropriate green energy development but there must be a balanced consideration of the gains and losses. To us, in this case this is crystal clear. This area has contributed enough, and the size and scale of this proposed wind farm is not appropriate on Green Belt Common Land. The consensus at our AGM is that RMNFs position should be to oppose the Scout Moor 2 Wind Farm development. Everyone at the AGM unanimously supported this proposal.

England’s proposed largest onshore wind farm.

The RMNF trustees have serious concerns regarding the Cubico Scout Moor II wind farm proposal for a development of up to 21 wind turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 180m, given the likely impact (cumulative or otherwise) on the landscape, S193 common land, Green Belt, designated and undesignated heritage assets, etc.

Similar concerns to the likely impact of the Cubico Scout Moor II proposal were cited as reasons for refusal by Rochdale Council for planning application14/00877/FUL to erect twelve 125-metre-high wind turbines on Rooley Moor. The Secretary of State (on advice of the Planning Inspectorate) gave similar reasons for refusal of an application to extend Scout Moor wind farm (APPLICATION REF: 2015/0112), which proposed smaller turbines with a maximum height to the tip of the blade of 115 metres above ground level.

At this stage of the Cubico proposal it is difficult to see how the reasons for the refusal of similar applications can be mitigated through the introduction of larger turbines into an historic landscape.

Having attended one of the Cubico consultation events one of our trustees said, “Can anyone genuinely assure us that heavily subsidised onshore wind is the best way forward? The Cubico consultation left me with more questions than answers”:

• Here We Go Again: Two previous applications were refused for very good reasons. Why should it be different this time?
• Limited Consultations: Why no late evening or weekend events to include more community voices? And why so close to Christmas?
• Misleading Name: Why call it “Scout Moor II” when the development largely impacts Rooley Moor? Is it an attempt to downplay the scale of destruction?
• Community Wealth Fund: How does this fund genuinely benefit the community? Isn’t £500K annually just £1.78 per person in Greater Manchester? And is it even guaranteed or index-linked?
• Costs Passed to Us: Why is the community wealth fund expected to cover walking routes, rest areas, and countryside management? Shouldn’t these be standard responsibilities?
• Profit Concerns: Shouldn’t GB Energy be the developer and retain profits for national benefit, unlike foreign-owned operators?
• Constraint Payments: Why pay wind farms millions to stop producing energy? Could GB Energy manage this more effectively?
• Planning Policy Changes: Why weaken public input by removing crucial tests in the National Planning Policy Framework?
• Impact on Common Land: How will replacement land for farmers meet quality and quantity standards? Will public access and rights to enjoy the moor also be lost?
• Loss of Green Belt: This moorland is a vital green belt and open space. Why risk it when we already lose such spaces to housing and industry?
• Moorland & Peat Restoration: Why wait for destruction to restore moorland? How will irreplaceable peat beds, taking millennia to form, be “restored”?
• Net Zero Questions: Will this project truly offset its carbon footprint and meaningfully contribute to global Net Zero goals?
• Environmental Concerns: Could taller turbines worsen local weather patterns, like claims linking the current farm to increased rainfall in the area?
• Illegal Off-Roading: Won’t easier access attract more illegal motorised use? Can a ranger realistically stop this?
• Heritage Damage: How will 180m turbines affect sites like the Cotton Famine Road, Waugh’s Well, the two nearby conservation areas, and Healey Dell Nature Reserve?
• Visual Impact: The current wind farm is visible 30 miles away. Won’t larger turbines worsen this blight?
• Noise: Won’t a characteristic sound of a turbine, described as a regular ‘swish, whoomph or thump’, which is the excessive amplitude modulation (EAM) of wind turbine noise, cause problems? It can be heard 3.5 km and recorded up to 9km from a turbine and is known to cause sleep disturbance and annoyance.
• Unfair Process: Why must unpaid individuals sift through complex data to defend their interests while corporations hire experts?

The legacy of Scout Moor II could be an environment degraded for generations, delivering unreliable, costly energy.

Related content

RMNF response to Rochdale Council’s Regulation 18 Notice of intention to update the Rochdale Local Plan and Call for Sites:

20240805 Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum – Rochdale Local Plan – Comments – Final

This is a public consultation for residents, businesses, organisations, voluntary and community sector groups, and individuals who live and/or work in Lancashire.

The consultation is open from 8 July 2024 to 30 September 2024 (12 weeks)

Clive Grunshaw, the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner, says, “it’s vital that I hear from as many people as possible and make sure that people have their chance to share their views, to ensure the priorities I set reflect what the people of Lancashire want to see”.

Click HERE for more information and to complete the survey.

Here is the latest edition of the Lancashire Local History Federation newsletter.

We hope you find it interesting.

The LLHF editor is always pleased to hear from members.

LLHF newsletter Aug 2024

Intention to update the Rochdale Local Plan and Call for Sites

Under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning)(England) Regulations 2012, notice is hereby given that Rochdale Council is proposing to update its Local Plan which will form part of the Development Plan for Rochdale.

The consultation and call for sites runs from the 28 June to 9 August 2024.
All comments and call for sites submissions must be received by 11:59pm on 9 August.

Comments and call for sites submissions can be made:

• Online via the council website https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/local-planning-policy/local-plan
• by e-mail to ldf.consultation@rochdale.gov.uk
• by post to Strategic Planning, Floor 3, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale, OL16 1XU

Initial Reg 18 Consultation Letter

Proposed Borough Wide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)