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Search the Public Notice PortalCampaigners against a wind farm planned for land owned by an East Lancashire businessman have raised concerns regarding the transportation of infrastructure for the turbines along country roads.
Plans for the Walshaw Moor renewable energy site in Calderdale, which are currently in the non-statutory consultation stage, revealed the proposed North Western access route for large and abnormal indivisible loads could travel through Pendle.
The Calderdale Energy Park scheme proposed to erect 41 wind turbines across 2,352 hectares of moorland in the Calder Valley near Hebden Bridge, making it England’s largest onshore wind farm.
The moorland estate, famed for its links to the Bronte sisters, is owned by Colne’s Boundary Mill entrepreneur Richard Bannister and his wife Janine.
To reach the North West entry point, developers have proposed a potential access route via Laneshawbridge, before heading east along School Lane to Two Laws Road.
They would then create a new junction near Watersheddles Reservoir to connect to a new track that would enter the site at the most northerly tip of the North West boundary.
Other proposed routes include three access points via Halifax, meaning the Laneshawbridge route may not be used.
The loads would include turbine blades, tower sections and other heavy equipment, including substations, transformers and a battery storage system.
This work would have to be carried out by a specialist heavy-load transport company.
If the wind farm went ahead, it would produce enough electricity to power thousands of homes on either side of the Pennines.
READ MORE: East Lancashire MPs invited to cross-party group on controversial wind farm plan
READ MORE: Campaigners call controversial wind farm a "profit-making scam"
One opponent to the wind farm, Philip Marshall, said: “School Lane/Laws Road is a narrow, two-lane road with sharp bends and is very busy.
"Often in a car you need to give way on the narrower stretches. [It's] bad enough in a car, but umpteen lorries with heavy loads is a recipe for chaos.
“It also has very steep sections on the double bends. Also, having footpath signs to Wycoller Country Park, many walkers use the road, which doesn't have any provision to get off the carriageway.”
Some Pendle residents have also been critical about the lack of information in the Calderdale Energy Park consultation brochure.
Concerns have also previously been put forward regarding the environmental impacts of building the turbines on protected peatland, a vital carbon storage resource.
Tony Darcy, from Colne, added: “Not only is the road far too narrow, but the road surface isn't deep enough to withstand HGVs.
"They’ll tear up the tarmac, leaving it unfit for purpose.”
The non-statutory public consultation on the revised wind farm proposals is due to run until June 10, with a public exhibition at Trawden Forest Community Centre, Church Street, Trawden, on Thursday, May 29, from 1.30pm to 7pm.
Lancashire County Council has been contacted for comment.
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