I TAKE strong issue with Mike Unsworth’s claim that “numerous independent studies have found that tourism in Bournemouth... will not be significantly impacted by Navitus Bay” (Daily Echo, February 27).

Where are these studies?

I for one, along with thousands of local businesses, would be intrigued to see them. No such research was presented to the trade and public during the long consultation period.

I would also like to highlight that the evidence that NBDL have put so much reliance on does not actually come from any coastal locations that bear any resemblance to the Navitus Bay project.

Whilst we understand that locations such as Great Yarmouth, Brighton and Blackpool do have a tourism industry, none of them attract a demographic which can be compared to those that use the unique coastline from the Isle of Wight to the Jurassic Coast throughout the year.

I feel they should have compared the Navitus Bay development to that of a wind farm, which interestingly had turbines half the height of those proposed by Navitus Bay, 10.5 miles from the UNESCO world heritage site of Mont Saint Michel, which was rejected by the French Government in 2011.

Furthermore, the Bournemouth University report which was presented (with no advance notice) at the public hearings relied on data gathered for a wind farm off the North American Coast and 26 onshore wind farms that bear no resemblance to Navitus Bay.

This reliance on such incomparable sites further highlights my feeling that NBDL do not have any understanding of the local tourism industry and the contribution it makes to the socio-economic make-up of the whole area.

Mr Unsworth, you do great injustice to Bournemouth by making such statements and comparing this destination to Great Yarmouth or Blackpool.

Such comments only serve to highlight Navitus Bay’s total lack of understanding of our local tourism industry and the contribution it makes to the socio-economic make up of Dorset.

DES SIMMONS, managing director of Bournecoast Ltd