DART was formed in May 2003 as an Action Group and is supported by the Dorset CPRE. The need arose because of 2 major adjacent proposals for large Wind Turbine Generating Stations in the middle of some of the most beautiful Dorset countryside and a well populated area just 4 miles south of the renowned Georgian market town of Blandford Forum.

The first project by "Your Energy Ltd." is for 9 Turbines at 105M (344 feet) high. The second, quite separate proposal (but immediately adjacent to the first) was by National Wind Power Ltd. (a multi national company) for 23 Turbines at 101.5M (333 feet) high..

It should be stressed that DART is PRO renewable energy sources in principle. But DART is against the sheer scale of these 2 adjacent Wind Power Station proposals and the resulting wanton destruction of a much cherished landscape and the consequential disruption to the wellbeing & amenity value of the many affected communities - all at no benifit to the wider environment. Such disruption is already apparent just from the mere threat of the proposed projects and is creating great concern over matters such as visual amenity, health and noise plus uncertainties over property prices.

We are prepared to fight to protect valuable countryside in a county renowned for its overall beauty & special nature and enjoyed by so many from all over the UK and elsewhere, especially as it has become clear that the environmental gains on this technology have been shown to be practically zero. Additionally, landowners and developers, far from "saving the planet" are taking part purely to make money at the Tax Payers' expense.

If we stand by and do nothing, we may all live to regret it. This is a cause worth fighting for and one that is patently justified as sad experiences elsewhere in the UK have shown.

To help achieve our aims, DART has employed a specialist Consultancy to present its case in lucid & unemotive form and is conducting a vigorous campaign throughout the area confident of its cause and with massive local & other support.

Other Reading Material:

There is a wealth of material available on Web Sites concerning all aspects of Renewable Energy. DART offers you the following as a short overview of our own area of concern.

• DART's Latest Press Release (May 2005).
• DART's October 2004 Post DCC Meeting Newsletter.
• DART's October 2004 Pre DCC Meeting Newsletter.
• DART's March 2004 Newsletter.
• DART's Consultancy Report (Executive Summary only).
• Objection letter and Report to NDDC by Lower Winterborne Parish Council. Also Annex A-E of the report.
  Annex A, Annex B, Annex C, Annex D, Annex E.
• Objection by East Dorset District Council This adjacent District Council has raised strong objections to the "Your Energy Ltd." proposal, commenting as a Statutory Consultee on the first of the 2 proposals. The planning Committee also firmly supported this stance on 16th September 2003 and raised strong objections to the "Your Energy Ltd." proposal.
• Objection by Purbeck District Council This adjacent District Council has also raised strong objections to the "Your Energy Ltd." proposal, commenting as a Statutory Consultee.

See also the material on our Reality page, the Recent local Press stories, and the Press archive material.