Navitus Bay today launches final planned round of public consultation

Developer offers public a chance to submit their views on the proposed wind park

The proposed Navitus Bay Wind Park takes an important step forward today (Monday) with the launch of the final planned round of public consultation before the developers submit their consent application in early 2014.

As part of the Phase Four community consultation, which runs until October 11, members of the public will have a chance to talk to the Navitus Bay project team about the proposals at a series of public exhibitions across eight different locations in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

This consultation is the culmination of more than three years of environmental work. The consultation documents will set out the potential impacts of the project and the measures which are being proposed to minimise these effects during the construction, operation and decommissioning phases.

People attending the exhibitions will be able to take home copies of these documents and also have a look at an interactive 3D computer model of the wind park to get a real feel for how it could look.

From today, those who are not able to attend the exhibitions will be able to pick up the consultation materials from local libraries, download the information and complete an online comments form available at the Navitus Bay website (www.navitusbaywindpark.co.uk).

Mike Unsworth, Project Director of Navitus Bay, said:

“This is a very important day for Navitus Bay and marks a significant milestone for the project. From the start of the project, we have been committed to an ongoing, open and honest dialogue with local communities about our plans and the benefits it will bring to the area.

“We also act on the feedback we receive. Since 2010 we have been carrying out a comprehensive consultation with the community and statutory organisations and as a result of engaging and consulting we have made significant changes to our plans. For example, we scaled back the project and moved the northern boundary further away from the shore resulting in fewer turbines and we are developing a smaller area of the sea bed.

“Almost 2,000 people attended our last round of consultation events and we are hoping that many more will come to the September exhibitions to let us know what they think about our findings and assessments. All the responses we receive will be analysed independently and will help inform the preparation of the Environmental Statement which forms part of the official planning application.

“We encourage all those with an interest in the proposals to come along to the public exhibitions, take the time to look at consultation documents at home and comment on the findings before the end of the consultation on 11 October.”

All the exhibitions are open to the public and will be held at the following times and locations:

12th September, 2pm - 8pm,

Captain’s Club Hotel, Waterside Suite, Wick Ferry, Wick Lane,

Christchurch, BH23 1HU

13th September, 2pm - 8pm,

Lymington Community Centre, Fuller/Mclellan Hall, New Street,

Lymington, SO41 9BQ

14th September, 10am - 4pm,

Medina Leisure Centre, Sports Hall, Fairlee Road, Newport,

Isle of Wight, PO30 2DX

17th September, 2pm - 8pm,

St Edwards Church Hall, Rempstone Road,
Swanage, BH19 1AH

18th September, 2pm - 8pm,

The Lighthouse, Function Room 1, 21 Kingland Road,
Poole, BH15 1UG

19th September, 2pm - 8pm,

West Moors Memorial Hall, 231 Station Road,

West Moors, BH22 0HS

20th September, 2pm - 8pm,

New Milton Community Centre, Osborne Road,

New Milton, BH25 6EA

21st September, 10am - 4pm,

Bournemouth International Centre, Bourne Lounge, Exeter Road,

Bournemouth, BH2 5BH

Click here for more information.