Thousands check out wind farm plans (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Thousands check out wind farm plans
2:50pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News
PRESENTATION: Mike Unsworth, project director for Navitus Bay Development Ltd
NEARLY 2,000 people attended exhibitions over plans for a wind farm off the Dorset coast, with more urged to have their say.
Navitus Bay Development Ltd held a series of events, including Bournemouth, Poole and Swanage, in its third round of consultations over the controversial scheme.
It said it completed more accurate photomontages of what the turbines, which would be 12 miles off Bournemouth, would look like, as well as a 3D model.
But opponents criticised both the model and the new photos, with main group Challenge Navitus saying they underplayed what the turbines, which could number as many as 218 and be as high as 200m, would look like.
Consultation rem-ains open for another few weeks and both sides of the fence are urging more people to have their say.
NBDL project director, Mike Unsworth, said: “The verbal and written feedback received indicated that the vast majority of people came away from the events better informed about our proposals, which is important for us as a company committed to open and transparent engagement.
“One of the main issues raised at previous exhibitions was potential visual impact.
“To address this, we provided a greater level of information which included an interactive 3D model, detailed photomontages and a visuals booklet to help show what the proposed wind park could look like from different locations.”
The information can still be viewed on NBDL’s website and in libraries.
“All feedback received will be reviewed and analysed and we will look to address any issues raised in our next phase of consultation in the autumn,” added Mr Unsworth.
Challenge Navitus, which has its own photomontages and videos on its website, said they welcomed the exhibitions as it gave the public the chance to speak to the developers, but said they could have been better promoted.
Spokesman Mike Owen added: “As we don’t think NBDL’s visualisations gave an accurate perception of what the wind farm would really look like, we encourage people to look at the images on our website for comparison.
“Indeed, during the consultation the developers removed or modified images on their website following complaints by Challenge Navitus. Of course, visual impact is just one of the concerns over this massive development. There are also important economic, environmental and navigational implications which should not be forgotten.”
People are urged, whatever their view, to have their say before the April 5 cut-off date.
Comments(6)
aerolover
says...
5:44pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Hessenford
says...
6:02pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Bluestew
says...
9:50pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Wind turbines have already made leaps in progress in design and efficiency and within this decade are reported to bring the costs down lower than that of new coal/oil power stations and the probability that nuclear will not deliver on time or on budget.
Investment in Solar power has seen the costs of solar decrease massively and this process was once also derided.
Sustainable renewables are a must for any future for our planet, stalling now will be a catastrophe for future generations
alanh7
says...
4:04pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Whilst the project director talks about people coming away from the exhibitions better informed and that NBDL believe in transparent engagement, it is a little different on the street.
So it is that when they finally agreed to a public debate as took place in Highcliffe yesterday, the vote was overwhelmingly against the scheme. Not ideal PR exactly when the views of both sides were presented and voted upon.
I gather the votes were about 10 in favour of the wind farm, 10 abstentions and 230 against the scheme.
no vested interest
says...
3:09pm Mon 11 Mar 13
The one that you probably meant uses Uranium which has waste with a half life of 250,000yrs and oh yes crazy people can use the plutonium from it to destroy the planet with nuclear bombs.
But of course you obviously know that there is an alternative Nuclear fuel called Thorium that has waste with a half life of 50yrs and you can't make Nuclear bombs with it and is less costly and more efficient than building Uranium powered generators.
All I can work out is that you approve of the former which means you are just ignorant,lazy or have a mental problem.
Of course we do have an alternative to the usual Fracking for gas but the alternative is more expensive and of course does't poison the water table and pollute good farm land,like it has in the US,watch the doco "Gasland".
You obviously prefer the former again because your obviously not right in the head,lazy or just ignorant.
Even good old coal powered technology can be used like they do in Brazil with 100% CO2 capture,where 100% of all the power gets used instead of the usual 35%.
But you probably prefer the old cheap and dangerous technology because your so bleeding ignorant.
Now when a better form of generating technology is allowed to come off the shelf,wind,solar and wave are good,clean and safe alternatives that can be used in the meantime...also they can be dismantled with no permanent damage to the environment when these other technologies are allowed to be used.
But you probably prefer all those technologies that are and have permanently damaged the world environment because you don't actually know any better,ah bless that's so sad.
I'm really glad I got out into the world and to the bother to learn a little about it and left ignorance such as yours back in Bournemouth or whatever stone it is you live under.
Hessenford says...
3:55pm Fri 8 Mar 13