An opposition group against the proposed South Coast windfarm Navitus Bay is urging businesses to put any concerns they have in writing.

A record number of around 2,700 people and organisations registered as Interested Parties to the Navitus Bay wind farm application.

Many of the responses raised objections and demonstrated concern over this proposal.  

Navitus
Bay Development Limited is proposing to build an offshore wind farm with up to
194, 200m-tall wind turbines situated in popular sailing waters off Dorset,
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Dr Andrew Langley, of the Challenge Navitus opposition group, said: ‘It is encouraging that some of the key statutory consultees have raised similar points to our own.

‘Local Authorities are now preparing their Local Impact Reports for PINS.

‘Businesses can help in the drafting of these important reports by sending their concerns over impacts on trading directly to their council.

‘You can still write to your MP or councillor if you want to cover any new issues.’

He added: ‘There is still a long road ahead. We will be preparing a much more detailed written representation for submission to the examiners later on.’

Dr Langley appealed for people with ‘expertise in any of the key areas of objection’ who are willing to help to contact Challenge Navitus by emailing info@challengenavitus.org.uk.’

A deterrence to leisure boaters?

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) recently published details of its views on the scheme.

Stuart
Carruthers, RYA Cruising Manager, said: ‘Our primary concern is with any aspect
of the development which may increase risks to navigation for leisure boaters,
the suitability of any measures proposed to mitigate such risks and their
applicability to small craft.

‘Navitus
Bay Wind Park, which would be located off the Dorset coast, is one of the two
proposed UK offshore wind farms that would be within 12nm of the shore.

‘The area is immensely popular with leisure
craft and busy with a variety of commercial craft. As such there are concerns
surrounding the loss of amenity to leisure boaters and the potential impact of
this on the local businesses dependent on them.’

Businesses with concerns about the scheme can find a list of who to contact here.

On the Navitus Bay Wind Park website it states: ‘On 8 May 2014 the Planning Inspectorate accepted for examination
Navitus Bay Development Limited’s development consent application for
the Navitus Bay Wind Park.

‘In accordance with Section 56 of the Planning
Act 2008 we publicised this acceptance decision and made the
application documentation available for public viewing.

‘The registration period for interested parties closed on 23 June 2014.
Relevant Representations have been published on the Planning
Inspectorate’s website.

‘Details of the Preliminary Meeting will be announced shortly on the Planning Inspectorate’s website and at www.navitusbaywindpark.co.uk.’

When the plans for the wind farm were scaled back for a second time in February, Mike Unsworth, project director at Navitus Bay, said: ‘We believe we now have an application that reflects in-depth local
consultation and will, if granted planning permission, bring enormous
benefits to the local region and to the UK as a whole.’

Pictures: The proposed Navitus Bay area; a photomontage by Navitus Bay Development Ltd of what the wind farm would look like from the Isle of Wight.