PLANS for a windfarm on Oswaldtwistle Moors are expected to include measures to enhance the wetlands.

The initial bid to site 24 turbines on Haslingden and Oswaldtwistle moors was downgraded to a 12 turbine application on the Oswaldtwistle site only, but remains controversial with Belthorn vllagers planning public meetings and protests.

Now applicants Energie Kontor say it expects to submit an application in October and has announced a range of measures which it says will restore the moorland by re-wetting the peatland.

The company has also announced the launch of a project website where residents can get up-to-date information on how plans are progressing and on the ongoing public consultation.

Newly released details also include a ‘Community Fund’ of approximately £100,000 which will be donated to Hyndburn environmental charity, the Prospects Foundation, during the 25-year lifetime of the windfarm.

Energie Kontor say it is currently in discussions with Natural England, Lancashire County Council and Hyndburn Borough Council to agree a ’Moor Restoration and Manage-ment Plan’.

But resident and objector to the plans Stuart Kaufman said: “It’s just not worth the damage and stress that it will cause.

“Peatlands take thousands of years to be restored, you can’t just re-wet it. It doesn’t solve problems such as noise.”

The firm says the peat on Oswaldtwistle Moor is shallow as much of it in the past has been artificially drained.

It says it is currently of relatively-low ecological value but that it can be restored by removing grazing in the short term and introducing a series of measures to re-wet the peatland.

The firm has also pledged to undertake regular monitoring to ensure the quality of moor improves during the lifetime of the wind farm.

UK general manager, Peter Harrison, said that “We are pleased with the overall public response as many local people understand the importance of renewable energy in averting climate change.

“They recognise that a wind farm on Oswaldtwistle Moor will make an important contribution towards reducing the dependency on environmentally harmful fossil fuels.”

Visit the project website at the address below.