Cubico consultation proposals for a wind farm at Scout Moor and Rooley Moor.

Please click here to see FINAL Cubico – Consultation Approach Note March 2025

The RMNF Trustees have sent the following letter to all our Rochdale Councillors in response to the consultation approach detailed by Cubico that can be seen by clicking on the link above.

STARTS

Dear Councillors

The Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum (RMNF) trustees are concerned with the proposal from Cubico in the attached document for school engagement.

We believe it is important that children are not exploited for commercial or political gain. With this in mind, we suggest any Cubico engagement with schools should only happen after the planning application for Scout Moor II Wind Farm has been determined.

However, if you decide to allow Cubico to expand its educational outreach before any planning application or planning decision is made, we suggest it is important this does not bias the planning process. The educational packs Cubico propose to provide must inform children and their parents they are only receiving this information because there happens to be a planning application to build a wind farm on Scout and Rooley Moor. Incorrect messaging could confuse children, especially if Cubico only extol the virtues of wind farms and the planning application is refused. It therefore seems appropriate to explain to the children that Government policy on this matter is not a “one size fits all” solution and that the Local Planning Authority officers must consider the pros and cons of each planning application. It would be helpful to explain to the children all the planning issues that must be considered, for example environment, visual impact, noise, heritage etc. There might even be an opportunity within certain age groups for children to debate moral issues concerned with the application of Government policy and if it is right commercial organisations will only consider saving the planet for profit.

We invite the councillor with portfolio for education to work with RMNF, Rossendale Civic Trust (copied) and any other appropriate organisation to ensure the Cubico educational packs contain the appropriate information to best inform children about this planning application and all the issues that must be considered. In doing so you might inspire interest in politics and planning as well as renewable energy.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

RMNF Trustees

ENDS