ABOUT US AND THE MOOR

• We are a small group of local volunteers whose aim is to restore areas of the Common Land called Todmorden Moor that had been damaged due to past industrial activities and current illegal tipping. In partnership with local authorities we have been involved in clean-up days, promotion of moorland and common land issues.

Volunteers collecting illegally dumped rubbish

• We started as Todmorden Moor Action Group in 1989. The original group opposed a proposal for resumption of opencast coal mining on Todmorden Moor by a company called Leigh Environmental. After successful campaigning against a number of open casting proposals, the Action Group reformed and was constituted as a registered charity in 1992 as Todmorden Moor Restoration Trust.


• Todmorden Moor is on the Pennine watershed between Lancashire and West Yorkshire. It rises to over 440 metres and is typical high peat and grass moorland. It has suffered over two centuries from quarrying, mining and clay works and the scars of these industrial activities are still evident in the landscape and the loss of species diversity.
  

• We felt it was time for the public to take constructive action to improve the moorland environment. Mining and quarrying operations had taken what they wanted and failed to clear up their mess. Restoration is difficult because of the altitude, steep topography and high rainfall.


• Also, mining waste continues to pollute the headwaters of the river Calder arising on the moors. Pollution by acid mine water loaded with iron salts exterminated all river wildlife for several decades. Life in the Upper Calder has only recently and gradually been re-established.

Contaminated river; Midgelden Brook, Todmorden

OUR ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

• TMRT is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Co. No. 2692390, and a Registered Charity, No. 1017756. Membership of the trust is open to all and we implement an Equal Opportunities policy.


• We have a management committee of 7 local people and no paid staff. Decisions are made at full committee at least 6 times a year, and more frequently as required. An Annual General Meeting is held each May.


• The Committee is elected at the AGM by the membership, three of the committee standing down each year according to the constitution, but being able to stand for re-election if they wish. The Committee elect the Officers we need for the year.


• Office space for the Flower Scar Project has been donated by a local Trust, but for practical reasons, the Registered Office for TMRT is a private address.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

• TMRT's first project was completed in 1994. A small quarry at the east end of Flower Scar Road used increasingly for illegal tipping was reclaimed. Techniques of landscaping, seeding and boulder barriers were learned on that project. We are now tackling similar problems at the west end of Flower Scar Road. Over £11000 was raised from 1996 - 1999 to complete reclamation work and attempt to deter tippers.


• Funding awards were received from Transco Grass Roots, Awards for All, Todmorden Town Council, Calderdale's Environment Initiative Grant, Community Foundation for Calderdale, Landfill Tax Credits and local donations.


• Local volunteers were organised regularly to carry out clean-up operations. However, for the last five years no clean-up days have been possible for safety reasons because of the quantity and nature of the dumped wastes. Our 1996-1999 scheme has forced tippers to dump further up Flower Scar Road. A more sustainable solution was obviously needed.


• As trade tipping increased with the increase in landfill charges we lobbied the Local Authority to work with us to close off a section of Flower Scar Road that gives illegal tippers access to the moor. The problem is that Flower Scar Road remains an adopted highway in spite of its very low level of use and neglected condition.


• We carried out a six month consultation in 2001-02, funded by an award from SRB 5 (Community Capacity Building). Fifty one individuals, Commoners, and groups responded by letter or questionnaire, and two public meetings were held.


• As a result of the consultation the lobbying was successful. We worked with the Council's Rights of Way Department to obtain a closure order under Town and Country Planning Act legislation, as part of an Amenity Improvement Scheme. We were called by the Council as witnesses at the Public Inquiry to consider the issues. Permission was given in August 2004 to close the road to all except authorised traffic.


• We received an Awards for All grant to assist with promotion and public education relating to the project - including website, video/DVD, Newsletters to local residents, exhibition display materials and office costs for the project.


• After 18 months fundraising, the Flower Scar Project was able to start work on the ground and was largely completed by Spring 2007 (see Flower Scar Project).