Offshore windfarms project mishandled, claim MPs

The Government has ignored the dangers to shipping posed by offshore wind farms in its attempt to meet green energy targets, say MPs.

The Government has ignored the dangers to shipping posed by offshore wind farms in its attempt to meet green energy targets, say MPs.

A report by the Commons Transport Select Committee has said that a collision at one of the proposed sites was "inevitable" and the project had been "woefully mishandled" by ministers.

The committee, chaired by the Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, criticised the Department of Trade and Industry for not consulting shipping and maritime bodies on where the wind farms should be built. The wind farms are seen as key to meeting the target of having 10 per cent of Britain's energy needs met from renewable sources by 2010.

The report said: "It is imperative that the concerns of the ports, the shipping industry and all those who use the sea are properly addressed in their further evaluation. Consents should only be granted to installations which can be shown not to compromise the safety of navigation. If the research needed to achieve this has not yet been done then the consent will have to be delayed.''