WELL done Bournemouth! Voted the best beach in the UK and fourth in Europe, by holidaymakers in Trip Advisor Travellers Choice awards. The reason, “with its stunning views, along with its very own microclimate...”

Alas, this may be short-lived, with Eneco, a Dutch company, preparing to site in Poole Bay, one of the largest wind farms in Europe. No decisions have yet been made as to the number and turbine size to be used in the 1200 MW farm, but 133 x 9 MW turbines could be employed.

These units have never before been built, but will be the tallest ever, standing 205 metres / 670 feet high, which is more than half the height of the Empire State Building.

With this in mind, I visited Eneco’s recent public exhibitions. The visualisations of the proposals consisted of poor quality ‘doctored’ photographs in a ring binder, and poster boards depicting the turbines on a grid system.

Eneco, however, had failed to make clear that their tallest (9 MW) turbines, were not depicted, later rectified by a felt tip written addendum on the poster along with two lines of script deleted with labels.

My other disappointment was that not one of their staff could answer the questions as to what effect the turbines would have on the microclimate.

I cited the recent study of a wind farm in America that had concluded that it had caused temperature fluctuations over the 24-hour cycle and increased precipitation.

Eneco advisors had heard of the American study, but I was informed that there was no statutory requirement to include microclimate change in the Environmental Impact Assessment Document.

Local protests will fall on deaf ears, so enjoy ‘the stunning views and microclimate’ while you can.

You have until 2019. By then Eneco will start filling their coffers with the absurd subsidies paid for every unit of electricity produced.

ALAN HEASMAN Beaulieu Road, Bournemouth