A PUBLIC exhibition is being held for residents to find out more about revised plans for a West Dorset wind farm.

It will be held on Thursday February 13 at Tolpuddle Village Hall from 3pm to 8pm.

Developers West Coast Energy wish to build five wind turbine generators up to 115 metres high on land near Tolpuddle, north east of Dorchester.

The wind farm is projected to generate enough renewable electricity to power around 5,500 homes.

The five turbine proposal replaces a nine turbine proposal which was submitted a year ago and formally withdrawn last October.

Under the new plans, each turbine would have a generating capacity of 2 megawatts (MW).

Steve Salt, West Coast Energy Planning and Public Affairs Director, said: “West Coast Energy is pleased to announce our public exhibition for the revised West Dorset Wind Farm proposal.

"Following the withdrawal of the nine turbine scheme last October we are now ready to present revised proposals that we feel accommodates the concerns raised in relation to scale and design.

We have listened, mainly to the local community, and now welcome the opportunity to speak with local residents, councillors, organisations and local businesses about our revised renewable energy generation plans and economic investment in the area.”

Bethany Redley, south west project development co-ordinator for National Energy Action, will also be attending the public exhibition.

Bethany will be running an energy advice surgery to advise local people on how to save money by reducing energy costs.

Members of the local community are invited to have their energy efficiency questions answered, and free energy saving light bulbs will also be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Bethany said: “I’m really looking forward to meeting local people and offering them some effective energy advice.

"A lot of people are struggling with their energy costs in some way at the moment, so if anyone is looking for real practical advice on how to save money on their bills I hope they will come along.”