THE public is being invited to information days to find out more about the proposed wind farm off the Dorset and Hampshire coast.

Last month Eneco, the firm behind the plans, announced it had chosen the site it wants to use for the park – an area eight miles away from Peveril Point at Swanage and 10 miles off Bournemouth.

The firm said it used reaction gathered at information days in November to help decide on the 76-square-mile area.

Now it is embarking on a second round of consultation as the proposals progress.

If all goes to plan, building work could start in 2016, with the wind park fully up and running in 2019.

Eneco says the proposed wind park would provide enough energy for between 615,000 and 820,000 homes, although opponents have attacked the visual impact it would have.

The park would be made up of between 150 and 240 turbines, depending on the energy generation needed and the type of turbines used.

Eneco has also announced a shortlist of 10 names for the park, suggested by the public as part of a competition.

They are: Knollsea, Jurassic Coast, Wessex Array, Wight Wind, Jurassic Approach, Solent Breeze, Navitus Bay, Vectis-Zephyrus, Jurassic Future and Wind Needles.

Chris Sherrington, project director for Eneco, said: “We feel very strongly that the public should be closely involved in the potential development of the offshore wind park right from the beginning.

“For us, it is vital that the project has a local flavour, so handing over the task of naming the wind park to the general public seemed the natural thing to do.”

People can now vote for their favourite name by emailing namethewindpark@mistral-pr.co.uk, calling 0800 848 8464, tweeting @EnecoUK, or via the website enecowindoffshore.co.uk

Voting closes on March 22 and the winning name will be announced on March 31, with prizes for the winner and runner-up.