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Sailors come out against Navitus Bay wind farm (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Sailors come out against Navitus Bay wind farm
12:00pm Saturday 12th January 2013 in Purbeck By Steven Smith
Parkstone Yacht Club commodore Barry Rolfe
SAILORS from across the area have come out against the proposed wind farm off Dorset.
In all, 18 clubs from along the coastline were invited to a meeting at Parkstone Yacht Club and around 120 people attended.
They met to look at revised plans for the Navitus Bay project, which is a joint venture between Dutch firm Eneco and EDF Energy.
It comes as anti-wind farm protestors gear up to demonstrate in Swanage tomorrow morning, while supporters are planning their own demonstration at the same time.
As reported in the Daily Echo, Navitus said it had listened to feedback and, as a result, said the park would now be 12 miles away from Bournemouth, rather than 10, and the maximum number of turbines would be 218, rather than 333.
Maximum height will now be 200m, not 210m, while the total area of the seabed used reduced from 198sqkm to 175sqkm.
But the changes did little to placate opposition group, Challenge Navitus, and they got the same reaction from sailors.
The meeting resulted in sailors saying the turbines would create a hazard in one of the UK’s busiest sailing areas. They also fear environmental effects and are worried about the farm’s size and visual intrusion.
Sailors are now being urged to formally voice their opinions through the planning process.
Barry Rolfe, commodore of Parkstone Yacht Club, chaired the meeting. He said: “The visual impact is going to be massive. It will be a big hazard as that’s a very big leisure channel.
“It will interfere with racing as well; it will cause all sort of problems. I asked for a show of hands at one stage if people were against it and the majority of people in the room put their hands up. It was a unanimous feeling that this is something that we don’t want.
“We’re not against wind power per se, but it’s the environmental impact and the navigational hazard that it will present.”
Navitus Bay said it had been in consultation with sailing clubs, Trinity House and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
It said the revised plans were aimed at addressing issues of safety and navigation.
“We believe these changes, coupled with the reductions in number and maximum sizes of the turbines, have helped to mitigate concerns not just on navigational safety, but also environmental impacts including visual. We look forward to continuing the dialogue with the sailing fraternity,” it added.
It said there were no plans to restrict access to the site other than for health and safety.
Navitus also said that a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment was being completed.
Mike Unsworth, project director, said: “Navitus Bay takes its engagement with local communities extremely seriously and is committed to using feedback received from the community to help shape the proposals.
“As a direct result of discussions with statutory consultees and local communities, we have reduced the size of the wind park and moved it further out to sea and are now looking forward to discussing the latest detailed plans.
“The exhibitions in February are just one of the ways that we hope to work together with the local community. We are also launching a new and interactive project website in February where people can access all the latest news and proposals, leave feedback and ask questions.
“Navitus Bay has always said that no decisions will be made without comprehensive consultation with all interested parties so we would encourage as many people as possible to take part in the process and give us their views.”
The latest round of events will include visualisations of how the wind park could look.
Consultation documents will be available to collect at the exhibitions and from libraries.
Navitus Bay has set up a dedicated community line, 0800 008 6763 and email, info@navitusbay.com, or visit navitusbaypark.co.uk
Public consultations
* West Moors Memorial Hall, February 1, 2–8pm.
* Bournemouth International Centre, Bourne Lounge, February 2, 10–4pm.
* RNLI Lifeboat College, Poole, February 6, 2-8pm.
* New Milton Community Centre, February 7, 2–8pm.
* Lymington Community Centre, February 8, 2–8pm.
* Cowes Yacht Haven, Isle of Wight, Saturday February 9, 10am–4pm.
* Christchurch Council, February 12, 2–8pm.
* St Edwards Church Hall, Swanage, February 13, 2–8pm.
Comments(26)
pete woodley
says...
1:18pm Sat 12 Jan 13
timwel
says...
1:31pm Sat 12 Jan 13
aerolover
says...
2:04pm Sat 12 Jan 13
skydriver
says...
2:41pm Sat 12 Jan 13
aerolover wrote:What a fool you are, the boating folk in this area employ many many people who support the industry if the sailing or boating goes away so do the jobs that go with it,,,,,,,or is that ok in your book, please THINK before you comment.........how about its built in your back garden........Nimby'
Nimby's again boat owners don't have sole rights to the sea and if using part of it will benefit people then tough find somewhere else to sail your boats.
s !!!!!!
DorsetEco
says...
2:44pm Sat 12 Jan 13
Then generate it there! Not in someone else’s back yard!
Preserve the wild and rural areas for your respite from the urban life.
Old Colonial
says...
3:16pm Sat 12 Jan 13
pete woodley wrote:Actually Pete I'm a local sailor myself, hence my comment relating to certain sections of the boating community we all suffer from.
I am glad you said that,the boating community are a law unto themselves.
Letcommonsenseprevail
says...
3:46pm Sat 12 Jan 13
MJD
says...
4:24pm Sat 12 Jan 13
LetcommonsenseprevaiBring on the wind farm or build a new coal fired Poole power station..
l wrote:
Barry, such a shame you didn't get photographed at the helm of a proper (sail-powered) yacht. Would have helped the Eco-argument immensely. I'm sure the electronic gadgetry available on the gin palace shown will easily keep you out of trouble. Chin-chin!
ShuttleX
says...
4:37pm Sat 12 Jan 13
I would like to point out to Commodore Rolfe (where do they get these jump up titles from?) that the words "majority" and "unanimous" mean two different things. As in the majority of posters seem to think you and your friends are a bunch of NIMBY's, but that is not unanimous view.
I have to agree that it sounds a case of "this is our playground and we don't want anybody else in it."
Wherever you put schemes to make power, there will be those for and against it. It just happens that this lot are against it for selfish reasons. They simple don't want their playground spoilt by windmills.
As for skydivers comment, just why is aerolover a fool for having an opinion? Out of the two comments, I know who I think is the fool. Your arguement of " it will cost jobs if these people don't get their own way" doesn't mean a thing. If you are the sort of person who would be willing to give in, just beacuse the alternative might cause problems, then I think you lack moral fibre.
l'anglais
says...
4:37pm Sat 12 Jan 13
LC Tanner
says...
4:39pm Sat 12 Jan 13
skydriver
says...
4:51pm Sat 12 Jan 13
LC Tanner wrote:The tax free fuel stopped ages ago, before you write a comment get the facts or don't bother to write , or are you a Chinese whisper maker? Further more it was Never tax free!
Perhaps if/when the chancellor puts the fuel tax on his currently tax-free diesel he won't be swanning out there to worry.
skydriver
says...
4:56pm Sat 12 Jan 13
ShuttleX wrote:Yes I guess it will cost jobs and no I don't have a problem with an opinion, I do have a problem with people who don't think before they engage the the brain before posting a point of view,
"It will interfere with racing as well; it will cause all sort of problems. I asked for a show of hands at one stage if people were against it and the majority of people in the room put their hands up. It was a unanimous feeling that this is something that we don’t want."
I would like to point out to Commodore Rolfe (where do they get these jump up titles from?) that the words "majority" and "unanimous" mean two different things. As in the majority of posters seem to think you and your friends are a bunch of NIMBY's, but that is not unanimous view.
I have to agree that it sounds a case of "this is our playground and we don't want anybody else in it."
Wherever you put schemes to make power, there will be those for and against it. It just happens that this lot are against it for selfish reasons. They simple don't want their playground spoilt by windmills.
As for skydivers comment, just why is aerolover a fool for having an opinion? Out of the two comments, I know who I think is the fool. Your arguement of " it will cost jobs if these people don't get their own way" doesn't mean a thing. If you are the sort of person who would be willing to give in, just beacuse the alternative might cause problems, then I think you lack moral fibre.
Fact!
skydriver
says...
5:02pm Sat 12 Jan 13
ShuttleX wrote:Yes I guess it will cost jobs and no I don't have a problem with an opinion, I do have a problem with people who don't think before they engage the the brain before posting a point of view,
"It will interfere with racing as well; it will cause all sort of problems. I asked for a show of hands at one stage if people were against it and the majority of people in the room put their hands up. It was a unanimous feeling that this is something that we don’t want."
I would like to point out to Commodore Rolfe (where do they get these jump up titles from?) that the words "majority" and "unanimous" mean two different things. As in the majority of posters seem to think you and your friends are a bunch of NIMBY's, but that is not unanimous view.
I have to agree that it sounds a case of "this is our playground and we don't want anybody else in it."
Wherever you put schemes to make power, there will be those for and against it. It just happens that this lot are against it for selfish reasons. They simple don't want their playground spoilt by windmills.
As for skydivers comment, just why is aerolover a fool for having an opinion? Out of the two comments, I know who I think is the fool. Your arguement of " it will cost jobs if these people don't get their own way" doesn't mean a thing. If you are the sort of person who would be willing to give in, just beacuse the alternative might cause problems, then I think you lack moral fibre.
Fact!
Derf
says...
6:39pm Sat 12 Jan 13
skydriver wrote:But you can run on cheaper red diesel
LC Tanner wrote:The tax free fuel stopped ages ago, before you write a comment get the facts or don't bother to write , or are you a Chinese whisper maker? Further more it was Never tax free!
Perhaps if/when the chancellor puts the fuel tax on his currently tax-free diesel he won't be swanning out there to worry.
aerolover
says...
6:49pm Sat 12 Jan 13
themummy
says...
10:21pm Sat 12 Jan 13
mooninpisces
says...
11:09pm Sat 12 Jan 13
Yankee1
says...
11:23pm Sat 12 Jan 13
l'anglais wrote:I don't know.
Rule Britannia, Britannia rules naff all
The rest of the world enjoys Downton Abbey.
Yankee1
says...
11:24pm Sat 12 Jan 13
Derf wrote:Not red.
skydriver wrote:But you can run on cheaper red diesel
LC Tanner wrote:The tax free fuel stopped ages ago, before you write a comment get the facts or don't bother to write , or are you a Chinese whisper maker? Further more it was Never tax free!
Perhaps if/when the chancellor puts the fuel tax on his currently tax-free diesel he won't be swanning out there to worry.
Pink.
Like the Commodore's gin.
EGHH
says...
6:34am Sun 13 Jan 13
mooninpisces
says...
8:34am Sun 13 Jan 13
DorsetEco wrote:So we should generate it in Bournemouth or Poole rather than 10-20 miles out at sea?
Where is most of the electricity used? Answer - in towns and cities.
Then generate it there! Not in someone else’s back yard!
Preserve the wild and rural areas for your respite from the urban life.
a.g.o.g.
says...
10:00am Sun 13 Jan 13
mooninpisces wrote:Sea comes in waves with white frothy stuff on top....
DorsetEco wrote: Where is most of the electricity used? Answer - in towns and cities. Then generate it there! Not in someone else’s back yard! Preserve the wild and rural areas for your respite from the urban life.So we should generate it in Bournemouth or Poole rather than 10-20 miles out at sea?
Ours is a Mill Pond more fit for ducks than White Elephants.
Old Colonial
says...
12:07pm Sun 13 Jan 13
mooninpisces wrote:True 'sailors' will have no problem navigating through the pylons, we are on deck handling the boat and using our eyes. Unfortunately, for many, a trip to Cherbourg or the Channel Isles means opening the throttles, engaging autopilot, and disengaging brain.
The Commodore says that sailors don't like Navitus because "the visual impact is going to be massive." How does this affect their sailing (or motoring, judging by the photo)? Don't they need to be able to see the turbines to avoid crashing into them?
pete woodley
says...
1:22pm Sun 13 Jan 13
Old Colonial says...
1:10pm Sat 12 Jan 13