Residents urged to attend Sussex windfarm open days

Residents are being urged to find out more about a planned windfarm off the East Sussex coast at a series of public information events.

E.ON plans to construct the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm between 13km (8m) and 25km (15m) out to sea.

The energy firm said the site had the potential to supply about 430,000 homes with renewable electricity.

It is holding public information days in Newhaven on Monday, Henfield on Tuesday and Worthing on Wednesday.

An event is also taking place in Brighton on 28 September.

'Ideal location'

Chris Tomlinson, E.ON project developer said: "We'll be formally consulting the community on our draft proposals later in the year, but before we do, we're holding public information events to introduce the project to the local community."

E.ON won the Hastings licence, which is one of nine sites around the UK earmarked for large offshore wind farm projects, in January 2010.

The firm recently submitted a planning application to install a 100m (328ft) meteorological mast at the site to measure wind speeds and gather other offshore environmental data.

Mr Tomlinson added: "We're continuing to carry out environmental and technical survey work for the site, but our findings so far support our initial view that this is an ideal location for a wind farm.

"The offshore mast will collect valuable wind speed data that will help to confirm this, as well as measuring wave heights and sea currents, which will help us to design the best possible site layout for this location."