The wind farms row continues to intensify around the Navitus Bay development but local hoteliers who would be most affected by a drop in tourism are showing their support.
David Lloyd of Challenge Navitus, a pressure group opposing the development said “Tourism and our local economies will be hit as holidaymakers turn their back on the area in favor of more attractive venues.”
However Kevin Wood, director of three of the biggest sea view hotels in Bournemouth on the east cliff said “I don’t think it will affect tourism in the area at all, on the contrary if some people knew there was one of the largest wind farms in Europe out there they would want to go have a look at them.”
However, the councils’ tourism director, Mark Smith said in a statement: “Bournemouth Council and the tourism management board remains highly concerned at the uncertainty around the wind farm off the Dorset coast.”
Julian Butterworth, manager of the Sandbanks beachfront Haven Hotel doesn’t agree that it is not concerning but said “what do you want to see? more wind farms or nuclear power stations.”
Mr Wood agrees “I don’t have an issue with them going out there; if it’s going to bring us some green energy I think it’s a good thing to be honest. I don’t think they’re going to make people not want to come to Bournemouth”
A government study conducted this year showed overwhelming public support, 82% of “a mix of energy sources to ensure a reliable supply of electricity in the UK”
Mike Unsworth, project manager of Navitus Bay believes the development could stimulate the local economy with employment opportunities “During the construction of the project we have estimated to create 1000 jobs and through the operational stage there will be a further 100 full time permanent local jobs.”
Mr Butterworth said “I think obviously it takes away from the view and the scenery, it does” and continued that renewables are just something we have to accept nowadays,“I prefer having wind farms everywhere instead of coal power plants poisoning the world, having nuclear power stations creating waste that lasts hundreds of thousands of years. Wind farms are in my opinion the lesser evil and they’re not that terrible to look at.”
