Navitus Bay: new consultation will feature 3D model (From Bournemouth Echo)

Navitus Bay: new consultation will feature 3D model

12:00pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in News By Jim Durkin

Navitus Bay: new consultation will feature 3D model

A 3D model showing a windfarm would look along the Dorset coast will be the centre of a new round of public consultations.

A series of exhibitions, starting at West Moors Memorial Hall on February 1, detail revised plans for the Navitus Bay windfarm. 

Earlier this month protesters on both sides of the wind farm debate descended on Swanage seafront for a number of demonstrations.

The Navitus Bay scheme, a joint venture by Dutch company Eneco and French power firm EDF Energy, could include up to 218 turbines sited 12 miles off the Bournemouth coast. Each tower could stand up to 200m high.

Opponents, including the Swanage-based Challenge Navitus group, fear the offshore plant will threaten tourism, marine life and also shipping.

However, pro-green energy groups believe wind farm schemes such as Navitus Bay are essential in the fight against global warming.

David Lloyd, from Challenge Navitus, said: “It is vital that people tell the developers about their concerns by putting them in writing to Navitus Bay Development Limited, to their MP and to councillors. Every letter of opposition will count.

“The last round of public consultation was criticised by attendees for giving misleading information and failing to provide adequate mechanisms for opponents to formally record their comments.

“NBDL have said they’ll do better this time. We’ll be watching very carefully to make sure they do.”

NBDL recently revised its proposal, reducing the farm from a maximum of 333 turbines to 218.The site was also moved further offshore.

A spokesman for NBDL said: “Navitus Bay is committed to hearing the views of the local community and believe these public consultations are another opportunity for all the community to help shape the project.

"Moving the development further out to sea and making it smaller in scale is a significant change that came about as a direct a result of feedback received.

"For this round of public consultation, we have gone the extra mile by commissioning an independent expert to produce a 3D model.

"This will provide a realistic picture of what the proposed wind park could look like from any location along the coast, whether it’s your home or favourite beauty spot.”

All our Navitus Bay stories

• February 1: West Moors Memorial Hall, 2-8pm.
• February 2 : Bourne Lounge, Bournemouth International Centre, 10am – 4pm.
• February 6: RNLI Lifeboat College, Poole, 2-8pm.
• February 7 : New Milton Community Centre, 2-8pm.
• February 8 : Lymington Community Centre, 2-8pm.
• February 12 : Christchurch Council, 2-8pm
• February 13 : St Edwards Church Hall, Swanage, 2-8pm.