DEVELOPERS behind expansion plans for a wind farm say they will make ‘every effort’ to consider ways to minimise the impact on a much-loved cobbled road.

However town councillors in Whitworth said the potential damage done to the historic and well-used Rooley Moor Road, also known as Cotton Famine Road, will not be prevented by the safeguarding measures.

Coronation Power’s move to attempt to better protect the road on the route to Rooley Moor wind farm comes after hundreds of people joined a campaign group, the Friends of Rooley Moor Road, made up of walkers, runners, cyclists and horse riders who use the road.

The developers have plans to build up to 12 new turbines and an access road near the Valley’s border with Rochdale.

Paul Taylor, who represents Coronation Power, said: “We have committed to undertake the following: to highlight and improve on-site footpaths and bridleways to allow people to avoid construction traffic, if they so wish.

“We will carefully control traffic movements between recreational users and our construction traffic and improve those lengths of the road that are currently rough, uneven track.

“We will avoid the road as much as possible, and where necessary protect it, and whilst the work is being undertaken, the sandstone setts will be protected by sand, a geotextile layer and a thicker layer of crushed compacted stones.”

However town councillor David Barnes said turbines weigh 130 tonnes and the measures will not limit the impact on the road.

He said: “It doesn’t improve the plans to me at all. The road is still going to be ruined. Trying to get that weight over a cobbled road is going to make a real mess of it.”

Jake Berry, Rossendale’s MP, has set up an online petition - Not on Our Hills - opposing Coronation Power’s plans, and separate proposals by Scout Moor Wind Farm Ltd for 26 new turbines at Scout Moor, near Edenfield.