A similar plan in 1997 had to be abandoned because of opposition from the Open Spaces Society and the Ramblers' Association, which claimed it would spoil the beauty and freedom of the countryside.

Yorkshire Water says the fences are necessary to prevent over-grazing and allow some areas of the moor which are Sites of Special Scientific Interest to recover.

"We are working closely with Natural England and farmers in an effort to come up with solutions to a number of issues on the Pennines while trying to balance the complicated and varied demands of countryside management," said a spokesman.

"The comments of all organisations and individuals will be considered by the Secretary of State for the Environment who has the option of calling a public inquiry. We will abide by any decision made by the Government."

An inquiry was held in 2002 and the inspector rejected the idea of fencing on the Calderdale-Rochdale boundary.

Kate Ashbrook, secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said the latest scheme was equally unacceptable.

"This is wild open moor, where people have the right to walk and ride.

"The fence will impair the beauty and freedom of this stretch of countryside and impede people's right of access," she said.
The society is also concerned about fences running close to the Pennine Way.

"Instead of having an exhilarating wilderness experience, walkers would feel hemmed in and constrained."

Yorkshire Water claims its application supports farmers who manage the moorland and who have applied for Government funding to improve the condition of SSSIs through new farming practices.

* At a public inquiry in 2002, planning inspector Christopher Frost rejected a plan for fencing from Blackstone Edge to Black Hill, Rishworth, because it would have impeded access and spoiled the wild qualities of the area.

It would also have run close to the Roman road from Rochdale into Yorkshire.

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