Coronation Power has submitted a planning application to build a 12 turbine wind farm, on the moors above Watergrove reservoir. Details of the proposal can be found at http://www.coronationpower.com/dev_crook.html This conflicts with the local development plan for the area. If this goes ahead it will result in the destruction of approx. 4 square kilometres of moorland which support large numbers of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. The area also includes a stop-off point for Dotterel on spring migration. Curlew and other species also breed in the area. The Scout Moor wind farm, 7 km to the west, was given the go-ahead despite the planning application being turned down by Rochdale Council. The government overruled the decision and gave approval to the scheme, which will destroy a significant proportion of Rochdale's moorland.
Anyone wishing to object to the Coronation Power develoment should write to:The Development Control Manager, Planning and Regulation Services, Telegraph House, Baillie Street, Rochdale OL16 1JH quoting application no. 07/D48920. Letters to arrive by 28th April latest.