DETAILS of a controversial wind farm on the outskirts of Rossendale will be shown to residents as work on the site nears completion.

The three-turbine scheme at Reaps Moss, between Bacup and Todmorden, was given planning permission by Rossendale and Calderdale councils in 2012 after an application by the site’s previous owner, Coronation Power.

New owners Partnerships for Renewables (PfR) will hold a drop-in surgery for residents in Bacup next week ahead of the installation of the turbines arrival.

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The scheme received more than 840 objections when it was put forward in 2007, although it also attracted 1,325 letters of support.

Work has already started on site, with the construction compound already completed and progress being made on widening the entrance and laying out the access road to the turbine locations. Construction of the foundations is due to take place early in February with the turbines themselves being delivered to site around April 2015.

John Mills, PfR’s head of communications, said: “We are looking forward to meeting members of the public who we hope will come to ask any questions they have about what’s going to be happening at Reaps Moss over the coming months.

“The project comes with a community benefit fund of at least £10,300 a year for the lifetime of the project. In years when the generating performance of the turbines is higher, then the size of the fund will be correspondingly bigger.

"We are hoping people will have ideas on how that fund should be managed and what sort of local initiatives and projects the money should be used to support.”

Bacup councillor Jimmy Eaton said he was encouraged by the decision to talk to the community.

The Conservative member for Greensclough said: “I remember at the time it was controversial because of issues over access. Consultation is really the only was forward in these cases.”

PfR is also constructing the Crook Hill Wind Farm, near Whitworth. The drop-in event is on Wednesday from 3pm to 7pm at Bacup Hub, in Burnley Road.