Samantha Barks throws support behind wind turbine petition

'Many of us believe this would permanently change the character of our Island'

Manx singer and actress Samantha Barks has renewed calls for people to oppose the Mooir Vannin offshore wind farm project.

Speaking to her 230-thousand Instagram followers, the star from Laxey shared a link to a new petition against the development.

The proposals, which are currently being scrutinised by an independent panel, could see 87 turbines built off the east coast of the Island. 

In her post, Barks said: "The coastline of the Isle of Man could soon change dramatically!

"A proposal could see 87 wind turbines, each around 350 metres tall, built just six miles offshore, covering 81 square miles of sea - an area larger than a third of the Island's total land mass.

"Many of us believe this would permanently change the character of our Island and harm the wildlife that calls it home."

The petition has been set up by a new opposition group, named 'No Offshore Turbines 4 Isle of Man'. 

They say 1,500 people signed it in the first 24 hours it has been live.

In August last year, the Council of Ministers accepted for examination an application by Ørsted for the development of an offshore wind project in Manx waters.

The panel examining the application will provide CoMin with a recommendation based on their findings. 

Most recently, at a series of events held last week, discussions were underway on how to bring power generated by the proposed windfarm into the Island's electricity grid.