Work begins on Scout Moor Wind Farm
February 5th, 2007Construction work has begun on a controversial wind farm on Scout Moor, an area between Rochdale, Rawtenstall and Ramsbottom. Once complete, the wind farm will have 26 turbines capable of powering 40,000 homes. It is anticipated that each year the wind farm will prevent 160,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. Peel Holdings, owners of the Trafford Centre, Liverpool Airport and Chill Factore, are behind the venture.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Well done Rochdale. Even in the early stages this looks an inspiring sight. Pity the Saddleworth NIMBYS didn’t have the vision to appreciate the wind farms make a positive aesthetic contribution. I’m not in favour of them on truly treasued landscapes - lets keep them out of the national parks and high Pennines. There are some local landscapes like the West Pennine Moors and the flat boggy land in Cheshire between Runcorn and Stanlow where they would fit perfectly.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
To put you straight, Rochdale MBC and most people living in Rochdale did’nt want this, it’s only the government inspector who put this through to meet their targets for renewable energy production.
I think it looked far better before without the new road, concrete and steel up there, just as it was for thousands of years.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:03 am
THIS WINDFARM IS CLEARLY BEING CONSTRUCTED FOR PROFIT ONLY BY THE EVER GREEDY PEEL HOLDINGS , THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN MAKING MONEY AND CLAIM THEY ARE CONSTRUCTING THESE 26 TURBINES FOR THE SAKE OF THE ENVIROMENT .THE REAL REASON IS COLD HARD CASH , AND THE OWNER OF PEEL HOLDINGS WHO WAS ONCE A RESIDENT IN EDENFIELD BUT NOW LIVES IN A TAX HAVEN FAR AWAY FROM THESE TURNBINES DOES NOT HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE GREAT WHITE ELEPHANTS AS WILL THE RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO FOR MANY YEARS .
March 29th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Once again the ilinformed pro turbineies have hoodwinked the inspector or paid his expenses. These turbines will at best only operate at 30% of their capacity, when you cost out the actual cost of buyilding/running and maintaining them. Turnines are one of the least green methods of producing energy. When will the gvernment inspectors start to put the long term econony of the country first and stop land based wind turbines now. That is without starting to consider the effect that they will have on the enviroment and wildlife.
April 1st, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I live in Shaw and think they already look fantastic both from home and from Manchester where I work. I would love to see them up Denshaw too, it would give me and the dog something new to walk to, and enjoy. The hills get a bit boring after a while for local people who actually know and walk them regularly. Unfortunately, too many rich insurgents to the area have had too much of a say up Denshaw way.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
How can anybody say that the majority of Rochdale are against the wind farms, thats far from the truth.
It is better then a nuclear plant being built on your door step. If it does only work at 30% then its a start.
Its time people stopped being selfish and looked to the future.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:32 am
i live in littleborough and i regualry visit the moores to photograph the landscape, and i honestly have no objection to the construction of the wind farm, i agrre with the argument that the landscape does become dull and lifeless upon constant inspection, i have even undertaken a project on the construction of the windfarm for my photography degree and have gotten to the base of these structure and i can assure everyone they are not as imposing as many make out, and the elegant construction of them is breathtaking to say the least, i think they are wonderful and i am proud that rochdale is doing it’s part to help the enviroment, even if its in a way that may be attributed to much unnessisary social stigma.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I agree with James, Pat and Andy. I’d just like to add that it’s a shame ppl continue to throw about the NIMBY label about without having the slightest clue about the ACTUAL reasons why we fought this for so long.
I never had a problem with the aesthetic perspective. I actually think they look great, but then again I live a few miles away so don’t have to stare at them day in day out. This aside, it’s a huge shame that they have to damage the local environment and change the diversity of the use of the area simply to fill already full pockets with a product that will fail to do what it claims on the tin.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I am documenting the construction of Scout Moor Wind Farm.
With the project just half complete as of April 2008 and having so far taken over 2000 pictures you can follow the progress of construction on this site.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/gallery/scoutmoor_wind_farm_construction_6568
Paul Anderson
April 21st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I LIVE IN ROCHDALE.
I THINK THEY ARE OF TOTAL BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. ITS DISSAPPOINTING TO ONLY SEE THEM FROM ONE BEDROOM WINDOW!!!!I THINK THEY LOOK SUPERB ON THE LANDSCAPE !FAR BETTER THAN COAL POWERED STATIONS OF THE PAST AND NUCLEAR PLANTS THAT ARE CURRENT.THEY ALSO DO NOT EMMIT ANY POLLUTION!THEY DO NOT POISON THE SEA OR KILL FISH AMD OTHER WILDLIFE.
I AM NOT SO SURE THESE WINDMILLS ARE THAT COST EFFECTIVE, IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO GET A PAYBACK.
YOU ONLY HAVE TO GO TO LANZAROTE OR TENERIFE TO SEE BIGGER WIND FARMS THAT ARE FAR MORE CRAMPED BUT ALL WORKING EFFICIENTLY
THE LAY OUT FROM A DISTANCE LOOKS ODD THOUGH WITH NO SYMMETRY IN THE WAY THEY ARE POSITIONED
ALL THESE MOANERS SHOULD DRIVE UP TO THE LAYBY, NEXT TO THE THE ADJACENT RESERVOIR, PARK UP, HAVE AN ICE CREAM AND ENJOY THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ENGINEERING , THEY ARE MARVELLOUS TO OUR FUTURE!
June 16th, 2008 at 11:55 am
The turbines are one thing, but the wholesale crossing of the moor with the access roads is a different worry. How long before the moor is populated with 4 by 4s & quad bikes to the detriment of the wildlife and anyone out for a quite walk? Does anyone know if barriers etc have been erected to prevent vehicular access (apart from authorised vehicles)?
Another question. Are Peel Holdings contracted to stand the cost of removing/replacing the turbines at the end of their operating life? If not, why not? Green energy - Yes, unnacountable profits for Peel Holdings - No!
July 21st, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Brilliant graceful symbols of energy should be pitted across our skyline cheering the drab lifeless moor up. One engineer said they have plans for many more so brace yourself Saddleworth, looks like your plasma TV’s going green! Well done to Paul Anderson for documenting the whole construction I found it fascinating looking at the pictures those guys must have a head for heights. It’s comforting to know they will be generating power right through our dark cold winters without burning any fossil fuel. Well done Rochdale.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
After many years wandering over these hills I can confirm that good pathways have already been ruined by quad bikers from as far away as the Midlands …. Ancient boundary and OS markers have been smashed.
Much has been said about the poor efficency of wind farms in relation to their capital cost. But the owners and the Government know perfectly well that the real economics of wind farming are based on the very much higher electricity prices which we will have to pay, thanks to the enormous waste of public money on private finance initiatives, waste of North Sea resources and also the failure to build nuclear stations like the French did years ago - so they will pay less in future than we will have to do. Thank you socialism …
JC
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
WELL DONE ROCHDALE!!!!!!