Bournemouth’s economy could suffer a £100 million per year hit and around 2,000 jobs could be at risk should the Navitus Bay wind farm go ahead.
In a Local Impact Report submitted this week, Bournemouth Borough Council details the significant detrimental impact the proposed wind farm would have on the local economy. Evidence shows that the cumulative impacts of the obvious damage to the visual amenity and the loss of the area’s intrinsic appeal would have major knock-on effects to employment, the tourism economy and long-term investment in Bournemouth. Combined, the negative effects of the development on the area would far outweigh any benefits.
Some of the negative local impacts highlighted in the report include:
· The destruction of Poole Bay’s natural setting and pristine views caused by the installation of up to 194, industrial-scale 200m tall steel man-made turbines.
· Loss of visitors who choose Bournemouth because of its distinctive natural bay – over six million summer visitors are likely to take their business elsewhere during the construction of the wind farm1. 91% of visitors to the area rated ‘the views out to sea and along the coast’ as four or five on a five point scale2. Losing or damaging this view would have dire consequences for tourism and the wider economy within Bournemouth.
· Tourism is a £501 million3annual business in Bournemouth. Any decrease in visitor numbers to Bournemouth would have a detrimental effect on the local economy. The report shows that the proposed wind farm would lead to an annual tourism income loss of £100 million during the construction phase of the wind farm. This is a loss of real spending in Bournemouth negatively affecting real local businesses – potentially resulting in multiple business failures and around 2,000 local jobs being lost. In reality even a small downturn in income would tip many local businesses into loss.
· This decline in trade would translate into reduced business confidence, business uncertainty and lower profitability, making it difficult to attract future private capital investment and severely restrict local economic growth.
“The collective and cumulative effect Navitus Bay’s proposed wind farm will have on our local environment, the visitor economy and wider business confidence in the town will cause unprecedented and unacceptable negative effects. All the evidence indicates that this wind farm will damage local businesses and lead to job losses,” said Leader of Bournemouth Borough Council, Cllr John Beesley.
“Because of this, we vehemently oppose the vast scale and location of Navitus Bay’s wind farm. We will campaign passionately against the industrialisation of Poole Bay. Protecting our beautiful and natural seascape along with the economic performance and future prosperity of Bournemouth are our top priorities.”
Further damaging impacts set out in the Local Impact Report include:
· Bournemouth’s international reputation for staging events is based on its exceptional natural seafront setting. A reduction in visitor numbers to these events would compromise the town’s ability to continue running them.
· The quality of its coastal setting is Bournemouth’s unique selling point in enabling it to compete in the international conference and language school market. Damaging this key element may dissuade visitors to Bournemouth and negatively impact this business sector.
Further Info:
Bournemouth Borough Council submitted its ‘Local Impact Report’ to the Planning Inspectorate (6/10/14), which is responsible for deciding whether or not to recommend approval of the controversial Navitus Bay wind farm to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
The Council is committed to building a better Bournemouth, and the fight against the wind farm demonstrates a commitment to protecting the town’s economy for years to come.
1. Navitus Bay’s survey revealed that 20% of summer visitors were likely or very likely to take their business elsewhere during the construction phase of the development. 1.061 million tourists stayed in Bournemouth in 2013 and 5.67 million visited for the day (South West Research Company). 20% of this 6.7 million annual visitor figure over the four and a half year construction period is 6.03 million.
2. Navitus Bay survey.
3. South West Tourism Company – Bournemouth Tourism Volume and Value 2013.
4. This figure has been worked out based on the total value of tourism in Bournemouth in 2013 being £501 million. Using the figure of 20% loss of trade during the construction phase (Navitus Bay’s visitor survey 2012) the reduction in income terms would be £100 million per year.
Navitus Bay predicts around local 100 jobs in Dorset will be created as a result of the wind farm; Bournemouth Borough Council predicts around 2,000 are at risk.
