05/05/06
Rural Affairs Minister Jim Knight has approved an application
to exchange common land related to the development of a wind
farm on common land at Scout Moor, near Rochdale, Lancashire.
Mr Knight has accepted the recommendation of the independent
Inspector who held a public inquiry into the applications to
make Orders of Exchange under section 147 of the Inclosure Act
1845.
An application to construct and operate 26 wind turbines was
also made under the Electricity Act to the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI) for the same development. The Inspector considered
the applications in tandem and recommended that the applications
be approved. DTI accordingly approved the application, and made
the announcement in May 2005.
Mr Knight has accepted the Inspector's conclusions and his recommendation
to make the Orders of Exchange.
Mr Knight said:
“In reaching this decision, we considered the interests
of the land owners, those with common rights and those with other
access rights. We balanced these against the relevant legislation
and criteria”.
“I am satisfied with the Inspector's findings that the
exchanges are beneficial to the parties and the terms just and
reasonable. Based on these findings, the decision to make the
Orders is clear.
Mr Knight said that all wind farm applications that concerned
common land were dealt with according to the merits of each case,
including benefits to the land's owners, the interests of commoners,
and the interests of the general public.
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