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

Developer announces dates for Phase Four community consultation

Members of the public will have a chance to talk to the Navitus Bay project team and submit their views on the proposed wind park, at the final planned round of public exhibitions prior to the submission of its consent application in early 2014.

The exhibitions will take place in September across eight different locations in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and are part of Navitus Bay’s Phase Four public consultation, which starts on 2 September and ends on 11 October.

Navitus Bay will be presenting the latest and most up-to-date findings of the surveys and assessments it has undertaken on the potential impacts of the project during the construction and operational phases.

People attending the exhibitions will be able to speak to the project team about the findings and impact assessments, pick up consultation materials and take a look at an interactive 3D computer model of the wind park.

From 2 September members of the public will also be able to pick up the consultation materials from their local library, or 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:

“Although there is a great deal of support for Navitus Bay in the local area, we appreciate that there are also some concerns. We are committed to an ongoing, open and honest dialogue with local communities and while this is the final planned round of public exhibitions prior to our consent application, there will be ongoing opportunities for the public to feedback their views on our proposals.

“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 so this is a real opportunity for people to have a say on the project and play an active part in the application.”

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

For click here for more information.