The BBC are reporting this morning about the potential for an offshore wind farm to be located 10 miles off Poole Harbour to the West of the Isle of Wight.
According to the BBC, the area has been identified as one of nine areas of “economic potential for wind farm development” in a report produced by the National Grid for The Crown Estate, but nearby Councils are reportedly angry at not being consulted on the scheme.
Open Debate?
Poole, Bournemouth, Purbeck and Christchurch Councils have now called for an open debate on the £175m scheme to build turbines offshore and help form part of a government aim to generate 25 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind farms.
A representative for the Councils told the BBC, “We are collectively disappointed that no approach appears to have been made… to either advise us of these plans or seek our views and the views of local residents, partners and businesses.
“We understand from our own enquiries that the programme is at public consultation stage until 22 April.”
Apparently the zone has been identified, but the Crown Estate claim that there are no formal plans for the wind farm yet, this is despite 96 potential developers expressing interest in the nine zones across the UK.
BBC Graphics Bloomer
We couldn’t help but notice the bloomer by whoever created the graphic accompanying the story on the BBC Web site.
Isle of White?
Update 24.Feb: We see that the BBC have now corrected the graphic.
Image: phault
