With Friends Like These, You Don’t Need Enemies!

Community groups Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum (RMNF) and Say No To Scout Moor 2 (SN2SM2) have raised serious concerns following Manchester Friends of the Earth’s decision to support the proposed Scout Moor II wind farm – a development they say would industrialise a sensitive upland landscape, damage deep peat, and undermine public confidence in environmental decision‑making.

Commercial Interests Framed as Climate Action

RMNF and SN2SM2 argue that the proposal is being driven more by commercial incentives than climate necessity. They point to recent public discussions – including Martin Lewis’s interview with Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy – that highlighted how heavily subsidised renewable operators can generate substantial profits without guaranteeing lower bills or wider public benefit.

“Communities are entitled to ask who really benefits from the industrialisation of Rooley Moor – local people, or private investors,” the groups say.

Deep Peat Excavation and Carbon Loss

The development would require excavating areas of deep peat and blanket bog – among the UK’s most important natural carbon stores. The developer’s own surveys, alongside DEFRA’s England Peat Map, confirm extensive peat across turbine locations and access routes.

RMNF and SN2SM2 note:

• • restoration is not equivalent to preservation
  • disturbing peat releases stored carbon that cannot simply be “put back”
  • concrete turbine bases would remain permanently in an acidic environment
  • the land’s condition reflects historic under‑management, not ecological worthlessness
  • there is no enforceable mechanism guaranteeing long‑term restoration

“Destroying a natural asset in order to justify restoring fragments of it is not environmentalism,” they say. “It is industrialisation presented in green language.”

Statutory Silence Is Not Environmental Assurance

Manchester FOE’s position relies heavily on the absence of objections from statutory consultees. RMNF and SN2SM2 caution that non‑objection does not equate to endorsement, nor does it represent a full assessment of cumulative harm.

“Statutory bodies operate with limited resources and narrow remits. Their silence cannot be used as a proxy for ecological safety.”

A Consultation Process That Left Communities Behind

Residents across Rossendale and Rochdale have repeatedly raised concerns about:

• • inaccessible or contradictory documentation
  • late publication of key materials
  • unclear cumulative impact assessments
  • limited opportunities for meaningful dialogue

The Aarhus Convention requires effective public participation, not simply the existence of exhibitions or leaflets.

“People feel this is a done deal, with the process focused on delivering policy targets rather than listening to communities,” the groups say.

Cumulative Impacts Overlooked

The existing Scout Moor wind farm has already caused ecological and social pressures, including illegal motorised vehicle access, antisocial behaviour, and unmanaged erosion. Campaigners argue that expanding the scheme without addressing these issues is irresponsible.

“It is impossible to justify further industrialisation when the impacts of the existing development have not been monitored or mitigated.”

Rooley Moor: A Valued Landscape

Rooley Moor is:

• • a historic and cultural landscape
  • a public amenity
  • a carbon store
  • a biodiversity refuge
  • an area of common land (Section 193 Urban Common)
  • a working upland landscape supporting local farming and the local food chain

“This is not a blank canvas for industrial expansion,” the groups say.

Correspondence Raises Further Questions

RMNF and SN2SM2 have raised these issues directly with Manchester FOE. Their written exchange (available to journalists on request) shows FOE’s support relying heavily on developer‑led narratives and the assumption that peatland destruction can be justified by future restoration.

“Peat lost to excavation and oxidation cannot simply be reinstated. No credible scientific explanation has been offered to suggest otherwise.”

A Call for Integrity in Environmental Support

RMNF and SN2SM2 believe FOE’s position does not reflect the ecological realities of the site or the concerns of the communities who will bear the consequences.

“True environmentalism demands more than supporting any project labelled ‘renewable’. It requires scrutiny, honesty, and a commitment to protecting irreplaceable landscapes.”

The groups are calling for a more balanced, evidence‑based dialogue that reflects the full ecological, social, and procedural realities of Rooley Moor.