Petition to reconsider Navitus Bay wind farm off Dorset coast

A petition calling for a fresh consultation into the wind farm in Poole Bay has received more than 400 signatures.

Adrian Chapmanlaw, who started the online petition, said: "The wind farms I've seen look rather elegant.

"They are not unattractive and will be 12 miles off shore. 

"People are very quick to say why they shouldn't go somewhere but can't answer where they think they should be.

"We have recently hit record breaking temperatures, the climate crisis is a very real problem that we need to fix as quickly as possible. 

The East Dorset Friends of the Earth leader, Angela Pooley said: "It's definitely time that it was looked at again. 

"The rejections for Navitus were for all the wrong reasons.

"There was so much misinformation, which made it such a struggle."

Navitus Bay was rejected by the government in September 2015 after years of controversy, with opposition from councils and MPs.

BCP Council's portfolio holder for transport, Mike Greene opposed the plans primarily due to concerns about how the wind farms would affect the tourism sector.

in 2013, impact research conducted by the wind park developer showed that up to one-third of all visitors may decide not to visit the area during the three-year development phase.

And once the wind farm is built and in operation, 14 per cent of visitors at the time said the loss of view would prevent them from returning.

Cllr Mike Greene said: "The survey showed how devastating the impact would have been on tourism, it would leave the industry in economic ruin.

"This would leave tens of thousands without a job. 

"The people that come to Bournemouth for tranquillity and the beautiful coastline would fear this would be destroyed. 

"There have been developments which mean there is potential for wind farms on floating platforms which mean they can be placed much further away. 

"If a proposal was to come forward that was invisible from our tourist areas then there would be no reason to object to it."

READ MORE: Navitus Bay won't appeal wind farm refusal

A personal supporter of the project some years ago was BCP councillor Vikki Slade. Her position has remained the same as she explains we "desperately need" renewable energy. 

Vikki said: "No one comes to Bournemouth to look out at an empty sea, tourists come for the quality of the sand and the activities on shore. 

"Brighton is one of the biggest seaside attractions in the county and it has a wind farm, closer to the shore than Navitus was ever going to be.

"We have to find a way around the problems raised because if we carry on refusing plans then were going to be left with worse solutions in the future."

Cllr Margret Phipps, who represents Christchurch Independent party, said: "The previous plans for a wind farm went through extensive public consultation and a full planning application enquiry before it was refused. 

"There was a great long list of reasons why it was refused. If it was to be the same in the same location, then I expect it would be refused for the exact same reasons as before."

You can view Adrian's petition here: https://www.change.org/p/conduct-a-public-consultation-on-a-wind-farm-in-poole-bay?redirect=false&fbclid=IwAR3OmW8WehwHZ92-GWTGr7pf1p32ImZ53SiA0FQVEzi9mOrfdXKXl12yTFQ