Churches’ bid for giant cross is facing rejection

A BID by church leaders to erect a giant cross on moorland as part of a major project to help bring their parishes together looks set to be knocked back.

The 23ft tall timber, steel and stone sculpture could be built on Rough Lea Farm off Edenfield Road near Norden and would be visible for miles around.

It’s the brainchild of churches in Norden, Bamford and Ashworth.

Church leaders at Bamford Methodist and URC Church, St Vincent’s RC Church and the Anglican Benefice of Norden with Ashworth and Bamford hoped the cross would ‘unite the parishes and provide the community with the opportunity to worship in the solitude of the surrounding moors’.

But planning officers have recommended the application is refused when it’s voted upon by councillors tonight as it is ‘inappropriate development within the green belt’.

A report set to go before the planning and licensing committee states: “The sculpture would detract from the openness of the Green Belt and, by reason of the size and siting of the sculpture in an area of high landscape sensitivity characterised by open and expansive views, detract from the visual amenities of the area and landscape character to an unacceptable extent. No very special circumstances have been advanced to outweigh the harm that would arise.”