A CAMPAIGN has been launched to stop developers tearing up untouched moorland to create an access road to a soon-to-be built windfarm.

The proposed road would run from Landgate in Shawforth to the planned Crook Hill windfarm over Todmorden.

But residents in Market Street, Shawforth, and New Line, Bacup, fear large wagons travelling past their homes, to and from the site, would pose a road safety risk.

And campaigners have also raised concerns over the impact the road would have on the landscape, from both an aesthetic and environmental point of view.

They have called a public meeting for next week and are urging anyone with concerns to attend and air their views.

Denise McGowan, of Friends of the South Pennines said that the developers, Coronation Power, had originally wanted to build the road from Littleborough, near Rochdale.

But the revised plans would see it created from the Rossendale side.

She said: “Residents living along these roads are worried about heavy goods vehicles damaging the foundations because their homes shake when they go past.

“But they are also worried about road safety because there are primary schools in the areas, so there are often children around.

“There are concerns over it disturbing the tranquility of the area and over the visual impact it would have.

“They want to divert traffic through Rossendale when the windfarm isn’t even in Rossendale.”

The public meeting is at Shawforth Methodist Chapel, in Market Street, at 7pm on Tuesday, March 15.