CAMPAIGNERS have criticised a council for spending 11 times more opposing wind farm plans than it did objecting to an oil rig.

More than £63,000 was spent by Bournemouth council in putting forward its case against the Navitus Bay wind farm, a Freedom of Information request revealed.

However, costs of only £5,718 were accumulated in its opposition of the controversial Corallian Energy oil rig in Poole Bay.

Wind farm plans were rejected by the former Department for Energy and Climate Change in September 2015 following an extensive campaign against it by councils, MPs and opposition groups.

The oil rig draw objections from similar quarters but Bournemouth council has been criticised for the difference in the amount it spent on the two schemes.

Chris Rigby, Save Our Shores campaigner and Green Party candidate for Winton East, claimed the figures showed the council, which has now become part of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, had “no desire” to embrace renewable energy sources.

The rig left Poole Bay in March after two months assessing oil levels.

Bill Cotton, director of regeneration and economy at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and former Bournemouth council director, said:“The Navitus Bay wind farm proposal and the Corallian oil rig were two completely different projects.

"One involved a permanent off shore structure and the other a temporary test exploration.

"Both decisions therefore required a different level of response from the former Bournemouth Borough Council.

"In both cases consultations were carried out, however the final decision was not within the local authority’s power.

"Under the new BCP Council we will continue to take our responsibilities to residents and the environment very seriously.’’