Scout Moor II is the largest and most damaging wind farm proposal ever brought to Rooley Moor. The application would carve new access tracks across registered common land, industrialise deep peat that stores thousands of years of carbon, and harm the heritage landscape that defines our community. It would destroy any future enjoyment of the historic Cotton Famine Road or the conservation areas of Prickshaw & Broadley Fold and Catley Lane Head.

Our campaign is run entirely by unpaid volunteers, giving hundreds of hours of their time to protect the moorland we all share. But the work needed to challenge a development of this scale comes with unavoidable costs.

Why We Need Your Help

To make sure residents’ voices are heard and the Councils have the evidence they need, we must fund:

• Independent consultants. We need ecology, heritage, hydrology, noise and peat specialists who can professionally challenge the applicant’s claims.
• Legal advice and representation. This is essential for navigating two simultaneous planning applications and ensuring the Councils follow the correct process.
• Room hire for public meetings. It is vital that residents have a place to learn, ask questions and prepare their own representations.
• Website hosting and support software. Keeping www.saynotoscoutmoor2.org.uk running, providing updates, and helping people submit objections is vital.
• Banners, leaflets and printed materials. We must raise awareness across Norden, Edenfield, Whitworth, Rochdale, Bacup, Rawtenstall and the wider area.

Every pound helps us continue this work. Every donation strengthens the community’s ability to stand up for Rooley Moor.

Donate today at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/say-no-to-scout-moor-2

Why It Matters

The applicant’s own Environmental Statement acknowledges Significant night‑time lighting effects for several communities. The impact of noise has been downplayed despite our consultant finding that several homes could become uninhabitable as well as making the Cotton Famine Road off-limits to many future horse-riders! No application has been made to deregister or exchange common land, even though the scheme would build across it. And the proposal adds 10.2 km of new tracks, increasing the surface available for illegal off‑road vehicle use, already a serious problem leading to massive scarring of the moor.

This is not responsible renewable energy. It is industrialisation of a protected upland landscape. Following the money, the only people who will benefit will be the Canadian pension fund that ultimately owns Cubico. Whereas, we have environmental destruction on an industrial scale and increasingly large energy bills.

How You Can Help

If you can, please consider making a regular monthly donation. Even a small monthly amount gives us stability, helping us plan consultant work, legal steps and community events with confidence.

But any amount, one‑off or monthly, is genuinely appreciated.

Your support funds the practical, professional work needed to defend Rooley Moor, and it shows the Councils that residents care deeply about this landscape.

We Are Stronger Together

This campaign is powered by local people who love the moor and refuse to see it damaged beyond repair. We are volunteers, neighbours, walkers, riders, families – doing everything we can to protect a place that means so much to so many.

If you value Rooley Moor, its peatlands, its wildlife, its heritage and its open access, please help us keep fighting.

Donate today at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/say-no-to-scout-moor-2

Please note that you can reduce the size of the “Tip” for the Crowdfunded platform but to remove altogether you need to click the link below the tip slider to enter a custom amount, which could be smaller or even zero.

Thank you for standing with us.