PROPOSALS for two separate wind farm projects in Rossendale have angered campaigners.

The Lancashire Telegraph revealed how Peel Energy wants to double the number of turbines on Edenfield’s Scout Moor to 52 while 17 more were planned by Coronation Power for Rooley Moor, near Whitworth.

But residents and community groups have vowed to oppose the schemes.

Paul Bradburn, chair of Edenfield Village Residents’ Association, said most members had expressed their disgust at a committee meeting on Wednesday.

He said: “We don’t want it. At the time it was built, everyone was against it.

“Now that it’s here, everyone is against it. We are definitely against it expanding again. It’s just too much. Another 43 turbines on the moors? Why? The whole area of land between here and Rochdale is going to be filled with them.”

Coronation Power, which is behind the Rooley Moor scheme, will begin its public consultation this week while Scout Moor Wind Farm Expansion Ltd — a tie-up between Peel Energy and United Utilities — will consult on Scout Moor in April.

Jonathan Hodgkin, of United Utilities, said: “An expansion to the windfarm provides an opportunity to improve areas of heavily degraded peat moor as well as to protect and enhance wildlife habitat areas and water quality sources on Scout Moor.”

Scout Moor has an access road to its 26 existing turbines but the Rooley Moor scheme would need a new access road.

Chris Peat, secretary of Forest of Rossendale Bridleways, said: “As I understand it, Rooley Moor Road is a listed monument. It was created during the cotton famine as relief work for the people of Rochdale and Rossendale and as such has a preservation order on it, but Coronation Power still intend to rip it up and create a wide new access road.”