WORRIED RESIDENTS in one of Saddleworth’s most tranquil villages are concerned their borders are under threat from wind turbines.
Led by campaigning Parish Councillor Alan Roughley, they are angry after Rochdale Borough Council agreed to a new 50kw wind turbine being erected just 340 metres from Ripponden Road – despite objections from Oldham Council.
The turbine, which has hub height of 24 metres and a tip height of 34.5 metres, has been built on a farm in the green belt near Rooden Reservoir and the Pennine Bridleway.
Cllr Roughley, who took this picture showing the background spread of turbines on Scout Moor dominating the centre of Rochdale, asks: “Is this our future?
“The trivial amounts of electricity produced by these local turbines will do absolutely nothing to either reverse climate change or keep our lights on in winter.
“Oldham’s Local Development Plan makes it clear these industrial windmills will only be permitted if the so-called ‘benefits’ outweigh the damage done to our local environment or increased noise pollution.
“So far this policy has kept the threat to Saddleworth under control but sadly surrounding authorities such as Rochdale, Calderdale and Kirklees have not been protecting their part of the beautiful South Pennines.
“This latest machine is actually sited on the Rochdale side of the boundary, though the result looms over the bowl of the Upper Tame Valley, with Denshaw at its centre.”
Denshaw residents protested to Rochdale Council while Oldham Council said the impact on the green belt would introduce ‘an intrusive feature into the open countryside’.
Cllr Roughley added: “I attended two meetings of Rochdale’s Planning Committee to put the case for Denshaw and a local colleague carried out detailed sound measurements to show how noisy it is likely to be.
“Our protests were ignored by the committee, who I have to say did not seem to take our concerns seriously.
“Very large wind farms out at sea are making a significant, if very expensive contribution, to the nation’s energy needs.
“These local ones only succeed in making Saddleworth a less desirable place to live or to visit.
“We hope other land owners will support Saddleworth people in fighting any more attempts by developers to make a quick buck at everybody else’s expense.”
One disgruntled resident, who did not want to be named, added: “Rochdale has no interest in whether the view is affected.
“Denshaw has been dreadfully betrayed as this new turbine sets such a precedent. Where next, and how many are to follow?”
A recent study by the London School of Economics – which looked at more than a million sales of properties close to wind farm sites over a 12-year period – found values of homes within 1.2 miles of large wind farms were being slashed by about 11 per cent.
Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The planning application for the wind turbine was submitted to the Council in September.
“Residents of both Rochdale and Oldham boroughs were consulted by the Planning Service on the proposals, as was Oldham Council.
“The application was approved by members of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee following full consideration and the opportunity was given to objectors to express their views at the meeting.
“The views of objectors were taken into account, particularly as the application had been deferred from a previous meeting for further information to be submitted on noise impacts.
“However, members considered the development to be acceptable and granted planning permission.”
What do you think of the new wind turbine? Let us know by calling Aimee on 01457 879264 or emailing aimee@saddind.co.uk
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