IN response to Mr Unsworth (Echo 23rd March) regarding the Navitus Bay wind farm scheme, he is correct in saying lighting was recognised as a problem during the Examination, but wrong in his conclusions.

Mr Unsworth refers to “studies that show the turbine lights are half as bright as the lights on the Isle of Wight TV masts”.

Where are those studies? The turbine lights are far closer, but the developer’s published figures crucially failed to include the effect of distance on perceived brightness.

Detailed calculations, based on NBDL’s own figures for lighting brightness, angle of illumination, mounting height and distance from shore, were published as evidence to the Planning Inspectorate on 7th January.

Those calculations demonstrate that the 2000 candela aviation lights on the IoW TV masts, designed to Civil Aviation Authority specifications, are a valid comparator for the 2000 candela aviation lights on 71 of the turbines, and from land the turbine lights will appear up to four times brighter than the IoW lights.

In the course of the Examination those calculations have never been disproven by the developer.

JOHN SEARLE, Irving Road, Bournemouth