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The Atlantic array consultation

Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm Project

Many of you will have heard in the media about the Atlantic Array proposed development in the western Bristol Channel.

The Atlantic Array project team developers are holding a very short 2-month public consultation which ends on November 10th 2011. All enquiries addressed to them will be “recorded and carefully considered” and should be answered within 7 working days. Following consultation, a report will be produced containing comments and responses – this must be taken into account when the Atlantic Array application is considered, and decision made, by the Secretary of State.

Here are some facts about it, and also how you can make your concerns, if any, heard.
Visit their website: www.npower-renewables.com/atlanticarray.
Write to: RWE Npower Renewables Ltd, Auckland House, Lydiard Fields, Great Western Way, Swindon, Wilts. SN5 8ZT Email: atlanticarray@npowerrenewables.com
The proposed Atlantic Array wind-farm will be between Gower and Lundy Island, some 14km from Devon, 16km from Gower and 13km from Lundy.
Landfall for cables will be in N. Devon.
Specifics are vague – number of turbines quoted varies from 188 to as many as 417.
Computer simulations are only as good as the information fed into them. The Atlantic Array simulations appear to seriously underestimate the visual impact this huge wind-farm would have when viewed from Gower.
The Atlantic Array turbines, being higher than Lundy Island will obscure it from view – they will also be considerably higher than Rhossili Down is above sea-level.
Although the company states that an Environmental Impact Assessment is being completed, we question the impact upon marine life, currents, sand movements, migrating birds etc.

The Gower Society made submissions to the initial Scoping Report last year, and has responded to this consultation – but so should you. Please see the accompanying draft .doc letter which you can use, if you wish, as a basis for sending in one of your own. For a .pdf version click here