RESIDENTS today vowed to fight plans for a £50million windfarm in Rossendale in a bid to save the countryside.

Reporter Charlotte Bradshaw gauges the reaction to the plan for renewable energy which could provide power for the whole of the Valley...

LIFELONG Rossendale resident Jay Dobbs is 78 and his Rydal Road home overlooks the site in Scout Moor where 26 giant wind turbines could soon stand.

He fears that the windfarm in the Valley could ruin the countryside close to Edenfield which he grew up to love.

United Utilities and developers Peel Holdings announced the project, which will create 130 construction jobs, yesterday.

It will take five years to build once it gets planning approval.

The project is part of the government's target to reduce global warming by providing ten per cent of the country's electricity from green sources by 2010.

But Mr Dobbs, said: "I feel very angry about the whole thing. People should be interested in bringing Helmshore back to it's glory days rather than making it into an eyesore.

"There is too much going on around here for the worse, buildings are being erected like there's no tomorrow but nobody is bothered with what's important such as the landscape."

The site, is the windiest in Lancashire with average wind speeds of 15mph - 50 per cent higher than Manchester.

Mr Dobbs added: "I appreciate that the area is very windy but that doesn't mean we should have to put up with them. If somebody doesn't put a stop to this then we will leave ourselves wide open for yet more development and then it will be too late because the place will be over-run by the turbines and the countryside will be gone forever."

The scheme will provide enough power for the whole of Rossendale as well as serving half of Rochdale's residents.

But Mr Dobbs is not alone.

Paul Bradburn, chairman of Edenfield Residents' Association, said: "I and most of the committee are completely opposed to this. It will ruin Edenfield's landscape and spoil the quiet countryside for those who like to walk like myself. I don't want to have to see these monstrosities in the beautiful country.

"I don't think for the amount of power they will provide that it's worth destroying our lovely countryside.

"We will be looking at the proposals with interest. The local authority has been by-passed but we will still ensure are concerns are voiced."

Wind energy is now set to become one of the country's major sources of electricity because it is the windiest country in Europe.

The project -- in partnership with development company Peel Holdings -- will also provide £1million for community projects and create up to 130 construction jobs.

If the plans get the go-ahead from the Secretary of State, Scout Moor will provide six times more electricity than Cliviger's wind farm - currently the biggest in the North West.

Manchester-based Peel Holdings, the company behind the Trafford Centre, is headed by Rossendale businessman John Whittaker.

The partners, who will share profits from the scheme, have pledged to plough back £1million as part of the community fund over the wind farm's 25 years life.

Doug Coleman, managing director of United Utilities' Green Energy, defended the scheme and said: "There will be many benefits for the residents, the first being that they will not be contributing to CO2 omissions. They won't see any change in their tariff because we can provide wind energy at the same price to the customer as fossil fuel energy. There will be short and long term job creations and we will be investing in the community by way of a community fund which will worth something of £1million through the life of the plant."

The partners have consulted with more than 50 organisations before drawing up final proposals.

Chris Bishop, owner of Edenfield Village Pharmacy said he supported the idea of renewable energy.

He added: "I would rather have these windfarms than have global warming and nuclear power. There is no ideal solution but the turbines are harmless and would be good for the environment."

But opposers say they will do their best to prevent the windfarm from coming to Rossendale.

HOW WIND TURBINES WORK

Modern wind turbines have three blades with a wind vane

A wind vane houses the gearbox and electrical components which monitors the short term average wind direction

The information is fed back to an on-board computer located at the base of the turbine tower

The blades are angled against the wind so they rotate faster than wind speed -- a gearbox increases the speed to make it fast enough to produce electricity

Turbines have a controlled breaking system to prevent blades rotating at an unsafe speed