Legan bid to halt wind farm plan
9:58am Saturday 8th July 2006 in News By Bury Times Reporter
A LEGAL challenge is being mounted to stop the controversial £50 million wind farm development at Scout Moor.
Norden solicitor Edward G Smethurst is behind the action, known as a judicial review, which could halt the construction of 26 turbines on moorland between Edenfield and Whitworth. The go-ahead was given last year following a public inquiry.
The legal challenge is based upon the ownership by Mr Smethurst of extensive property rights over the Scout and Knowl Moors which occupy an area of approximately ten square miles between Norden and Edenfield on one side of the moor and Whitworth and the Rossendale Valley on the other side.
Mr Smethurst explained: "I am the largest holder of the registered commons property rights and I hold rights over all areas of the moor that are affected." He claims that in order to erect a windfarm on the moors, the developers Peel Holdings and the Government need to compulsorily remove and transfer the property rights of a number of local farmers and smallholders.
