Scout Moor windfarm's ‘Conservative opponents have deprived area of millions in a time of crisis'
Conservative Party objections to extending the Scout Moor wind-farm in the mid-2010s have deprived Rossendale Council of valuable, long-term income as it now grapples with today’s ‘bleak’ financial challenges, Labour councillors have claimed.
The original Scout Moor wind-farm was commissioned in 2008. But in 2015 the extension plan was submitted by Scout Moor Wind Farm Expansion Ltd, a joint enterprise between Peel Energy and United Utilities, to increase turbines from 26 to 42. Developers said the extra turbines would generate power for around 22,500 homes and bring £11 million to the local economy. The original wind-farm was expected to operate to the early 2030s and the extension until the 2040s.
Rossendale Council has some reserves but relying on these over time is not sustainable, the report added. To tackle the gap, it needs to consider factors including future council tax, business rates, support for non-statutory [not legally-required] activities and organisations, the standard of its statutory services, future efficiencies, new revenue opportunities and achieving good contract renewals.
However. Conservative group leader Coun David Foxcroft said: “Some of these factors are outside the council’s control. However, £600,000 is allocated to the Empty Homes Scheme. That is the responsibility of this council and started here. It has cost residents £10million plus an extra £600,000 on the budget for this year.”
He added: “I don’t agree that cost pressures were out of the government’s control. There has been a lack of investment in alternative energy. Home insulation schemes have been stopped by the government. The wind-farm extension at Scout Moor was stopped. There has generally been under-investment in big schemes which would have made a big difference to this council. Those were government decisions.”
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