A PETITION calling for the Navitus Bay wind farm scheme to be revived has been signed more than 150 times.

Started by the Mid Dorset and North Poole Liberal Democrats, it calls on BCP Council to “revisit” an off-shore scheme “with clear and open minds”.

It follows comments from the council’s new cabinet member for sustainability, councillor Mike Greene, saying he would “strongly urge” opposition to any new proposals.

The 970mw project, planned 10km off the coast of Dorset had been led by Eneco and EDF Energy but was refused planning permission in September 2015 over concerns about the effect it would have on views.

But it was brought back into the limelight earlier this month after prime minister Boris Johnson said every home in the country would use wind-generated power by 2030.

Cllr Greene said he “believed” in wind energy but that it “has to be produced in the right place and where it doesn’t damage local economies”.

“If there were any attempt to reopen the Navitus proposal, I will strongly urge BCP to challenge that,” he said. “Wind farms in the right place and at the right price are going to be a major contributor to energy production and I will be a strong supporter of those but not where they are likely to damage the economy of an area that depends on tourism.”

The Mid Dorset and North Poole Lib Dems are now calling on the council to launch a new consultation on the scheme saying “real action” was needed.

“Reviving the Navitus Bay wind farm project is a fantastic and logical place to start [to meeting the prime minister’s target],” its petition says. “It should never have been dismissed in the first place.

“In spite of the fact that residents supported it and the climate situation necessitated it, local Conservatives rallied vocal minority opposition and on the old Bournemouth council even spent thousands of pounds of taxpayer money opposing it.

“Five years on, the short-sightedness of their actions could not be clearer.”

The petition calls on the council to reconsider the project and has had more than 150 people sign it.