Residents and people working in the business community in Wells and the surrounding areas are being urged to attend an information session on Thursday about the proposed Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm.
Residents and people working in the business community in Wells and the surrounding areas are being urged to attend an information session on Thursday about the proposed Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm.
The 88 turbine windfarm off the north Norfolk coast is expected to give a massive economic boost to Wells and the surrounding areas as far away as Fakenham.
Harbour Master Bob Smith says the Harbour Commissioners are fully supportive of the plans which is being carried out by StatoilHydro and Norway's publicly owned power utility, Statkraft .
Statkraft has bought a 50 pc stake in the 1.03bn project.
The deal will allow construction of the windfarm, about 10 miles of the north Norfolk coast, to start later this year and it should be generating power by 2011.
Once complete, the Sheringham Shoal will be Britain's fourth largest offshore wind farm, generating enough electricity for 222,000 homes.
Mr Smith said that the development offers a wonderful opportunity for local firms to become involved because Wells will be the main operational and maintenance base during the construction period.
Mr Smith points out that there could be significant job opportunities from such a major project and that local companies and firms in the area needed to register their interests as soon as possible.
“We are all very confident that this major development of the Sheringham Shoal wind farm will go ahead and there could be business opportunities for people living and working in a radius of 10 to 15 miles of Wells.
“I would urge everyone with interests in construction and engineering, however small scale, to come along to the Information Day and see what is being proposed. It is a marvellous opportunity for both the business community and local residents to come along and ask questions, it is something that is going to be around for the next two decades and the spin-off in terms of local job opportunities could be far-reaching,” said Mr Smith.
The information day is being held at Wells Town Football Club from 2pm until 6.30pm.
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