22nd November 2007

Rossendale Council will rule on the proposed Reaps Moss wind farm on 28th November 2007 following the planning officer's recommendation for refusal released on 20th November. If rejected by the Council, Coronation Power, the developer, has strong grounds to appeal after reviewing the planning officer's report and reasons for refusal of the scheme.

One objection to the wind farm is to development in Green Belt. The planning officer himself makes reference to the Scout Moor Inquiry decision which shows wind farms are appropriate forms of development in Green Belt. After the 25 year life span of the wind farm, the site would be restored to its original condition which shows that wind farms, due to the temporary nature, can actually preserve Green Belt by preventing further development.

The second objection is based on landscape and visual impact. In the officer's report, the independent assessment of landscape specialist Phil Roden of Axis, which concludes that the Reaps Moss wind farm is acceptable in landscape and visual terms, is not mentioned. The Julie Martin Associates (JMA) report, commissioned by the Council, informs the majority of assessments. The JMA evaluation finds the wind farm unacceptable, either alone or in combination with other proposed schemes.

However, the Lancashire County Council Specialist Landscape Advisor assessed both the Axis and JMA reports and agreed with Axis that Reaps Moss is "acceptable in landscape and visual terms" either alone or in combination with other wind farms. The argument that the Reaps Moss wind farm is acceptable is further strengthened by the Lovejoy report, commissioned to study the suitability of the area for wind farms, which supports the location of the site and also the number of proposed wind turbines. Natural England, the Government's statutory landscape advisor, does not object to landscape impact.

A third objection is to impact on hydrology and ecology. With regard to hydrology, United Utilities have "no objection", Yorkshire Water "do not believe that the development will have any adverse impact on Gorpley reservoir" and the Environment Agency, the UK authority on hydrology has "no objection".

In relation to ecology, the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) requires areas of high quality blanket bog and peat to be protected by the designations of Sites of Special Scientific Interest or Special Areas of Conservation. However, the Reaps Moss site is undesignated proving it is not an internationally important conservation area of bog. The developer concedes that the Reaps Moss wind farm will be developed on degraded vegetation of low conservation value. In recognition of this, post construction the developer has agreed to a 25 year habitat management programme for the lifetime of the wind farm and for 10 years after decommissioning. With regards to developing on peat, any carbon released in the construction phase would be saved within 2 months of the wind farms operation (based on Scottish Natural Heritage methodology).

A fourth objection raised was about protection of badgers. In 2006, a survey found no active badger setts. In 2007, a survey found evidence of badger feeding activity away from the proposed turbines sites, close to the entrance. A single hole was found, but not as part of a main sett. The area is adjacent to the access track making it safe from construction works, however, Coronation Power agree to resurvey the site before construction and will obtain a licence prior to any work commencing.

As Sir David King says, "Climate change is the most severe problem we are facing today". The Reaps Moss wind farm would generate up to 9MW of green, sustainable electricity which is equivalent to the annual energy needs of 5,000 households and would help to meet local 2010 renewable energy targets. "We are confident that this wind farm is robust in design and mindful of environmental constraints. If the Council also refuse Reaps Moss, we will take this to Inquiry and we believe we can win; it would be such a waste of Council money to force us to go down this route, but we are confident that this wind farm scheme is balanced and beneficial," says Coronation Power's PR Officer Danielle Milne