RESIDENTS and representatives from the New Forest and East Dorset have voiced their concerns over the disruption that onshore cabling for a controversial wind farm would cause.

A marathon meeting about the Navitus Bay project in Bournemouth heard from Peter Holden, chairman of West Moors Parish Council, who said the cabling would go through some ‘very well-used’ areas.

Ann Warman, of East Dorset District Council, said it would ‘desecrate’ the landscape.

A broad range of people took their chance to address a panel from the Planning Inspectorate, which will ultimately make the recommendation to the Secretary of State as to whether the controversial scheme, which would see as many as 194 turbines as high as 200 metres off the Dorset coast, should get the green light.

While supporters pointed to green energy targets and relying less on fossil fuels and energy from abroad, objectors looked to visual impact, economic worries, bird migration, shipping, noise and health worries and the onshore impact of cabling.

But Dr Martin Price, of East Dorset Friends of the Earth, said that local authorities coming out against the wind farm went against national and local environment policy.

Dr Price later said: “Increased frequency and severity of storm events is a predicted consequence of climate change.”

Dr Andrew Langley, of opposition group Challenge Navitus, added: “The proposal is in the busiest recreational marine area in this country. The economic value of sensitive land and seascapes was ignored.”

The planning process moves into issue-specific hearings and site visits over the coming months.

The Planning Inspectorate will go away to make its recommendation to the Secretary of State, who has the final say, in the spring.