WIND farm objectors are urging people to watch with interest when exploratory investigations for a 30-turbine development are carried out off the North Wales coast. Save Our Scenery (SOS), which is fighting to stop the 200 turbine Gwynt-y-M r development nine miles off the coast, say the exploratory work for the Rhyl Flats scheme will give people a clearer perspective on the impact the two projects are likely to have. Npower Renewables, the company behind both schemes, gained permission for Rhyl Flats three years ago, and has now applied for permission to carry out an investigation of the seabed at the site. It will involve drilling boreholes and taking samples, and the work will last between six and eight weeks. SOS chairman John Lawson-Reay, claims the drilling work, due to start in August, will give people living along the coast the chance to see how close the turbines will be. "Rhyl Flats is just four and a half miles offshore. Just see where this work is taking place, watch the barge, and then imagine 30 turbines each one taller than Blackpool Tower. That will put it all into perspective," he said. Npower says the application for permission to drill the boreholes has been made so they can gain more information to evaluate the project. Project manager Dave Wallis, said: "We believe the site is a suitable location for a wind farm, but before we make any decision about construction we need to collect more detailed information, particularly relating to ground conditions, both at the site and on the cable routes." | 
