The wind farm would provide electricity for up to 250,000 homes

It is the first in a series of meetings aimed at informing residents of the proposals for up to 80 turbines to be installed 12km off the Kent coast.

The project should provide electricity for nearly 250,000 homes a year and is expected to be completed by 2007.

The first public meeting will be in Margate before moving onto Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Deal in the coming week.

Mark Petterson, of Warwick Energy, said a total of 15 wind farm projects off the South East coast were being considered, as part of a government push to increase renewable energy supplies.

In the past, Kent was covered in windmills - they have gone and you would never know they were there and this won't be any different Mark Petterson

He said the visual impact of the 80-turbine farm would be minimal.

"From most viewpoints you will see very little," he said.

"On a clear day you will effectively see a small row of white matchsticks on the horizon and on a cloudier day, with sea haze, you won't see them at all."

He said the turbines would have a working life of between 20 and 40 years.

"When they are decommissioned we cut them off at the base slightly below the sea bed.

"No one will ever know they were there.

"In the past, Kent was covered in windmills - they have gone and you would never know they were there and this won't be any different."