ORGANISERS of a public exhibition on a proposed wind farm in Purbeck are celebrating after a positive response from visitors.

Feedback from the Alaska Wind Farm display showed a 69 per cent support for the four-turbine proposal at Masters Pit, East Stoke.

Around 200 residents attended the event, hosted by wind farm developer Infinergy, which provided information on the revised plans for four rather than six 410ft wind turbines.

Among visitors who completed an opinion form, 69 per cent indicated their support for the new scheme, 26 per cent of respondents objected and a further four per cent gave ‘no comment’.

Infinergy will respond to queries made at the exhibition and a ‘statement of consultation’ will be submitted to Purbeck District Council as part of its application.

Charles Sandham, chief executive of Infinergy, said: “We are delighted at the number of people who attended the exhibition and took the opportunity to view the revised proposal, ask questions and discuss the wider issue of climate change. It is good to see that so many people are taking the climate change issue seriously and want to help do their bit towards Dorset’s 2010 renewable energy target.”

The event was also met with protests from the Dorset Against Rural Turbines (DART) pressure group and the county branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

President of Dorset CPRE Terry Stewart and a fellow protester also made off with Infinergy’s information packs from the display.

Mr Sandham said: “Infinergy welcomes discussions with all parties involved, however, it was a great disappointment to see Mr Stewart behave unreasonably at the exhibition by stealing our exhibition literature and using aggressive tactics.

“Mr Stewart also complains that the turbines will be a blot on the landscape, but the large number of yellow anti-wind farm stickers that opposition groups such as DART and CPRE have stuck to almost every road sign in the area is a blot in itself.

“The use of road signs go against all of CPRE’s current principles which highlights their belief that road signs ‘spoil the countryside and there’s a real risk they can distract motorists driving at high speeds’.”

Mr Steward said the reason they had taken the leaflets was to hand to the exhibition visitors and point out Infinergy’s statements that CPRE contested.

He said: “I don’t think we’ve used aggressive tactics. We held a rally outside the front of the hotel, which is our democratic right to protest about a proposed environmental desecration.”

In response to the road signs, he added: “There’s rather a difference between four giant turbines 410ft high and a few placards.”

For details of the proposals visit www.alaskawindfarm.co.uk