IN reply to Cllr Atkinson’s letter of November 1, I understand the visual impact of the offshore wind turbines is a major concern but one that must be viewed realistically.

The Navitus wind farm cannot be sited further south because of a reef immediately to the south with special area of conservation, (SAC) status.

Also the sea bed drops off steeply beyond this. The deployment of wind turbines in deep water requires the use of floating turbines which are, as yet, in their infancy of development.

The Dutch have accepted turbines both close to the coast and sited further out. However this is because the North Sea is generally shallow, as is the Irish Sea and unlike the English Channel.

CHRISTINE HANNY, Argyll Road, Poole