One of the UK's largest offshore wind farms is being planned off the south Wales holiday resort of Porthcawl.

Scarweather Sands, is being considered as a 30 turbine site, which would generate enough power for 86,000 homes.

Thirty turbines could be placed off Porthcawl

The project is being funded by United Utilities Green Energy at a cost of �100m.

However, residents fear that if the wind farm goes ahead, tourism to the area will be affected.

Currently, work is being carried out to assess the environmental impact the proposals will have on the area.

Eleri Wyn Owen, the project manager for United Utilities said: "We are undertaking research into the scheme and considering the positive and negative effects it will have on the area.

"There are a number of specialised studies going on.

We are keen that the planning decision should be made in Wales

Eleri Wyn Owen, United Utilities

"We are also conducting public consultations so that people know what we are planning.

"We will be putting in an application to build the turbines to the Welsh Assembly in January.

"United Utilities are keen that the planning decision should be made in Wales," she said.

Ms Owen said that a number of restrictions had been made on the site of the project.

"It has been determined according to a number of constraints," she said.

One of the restrictions is that no expansion plans to the site can be made - there will be a maximum of 30 turbines.

People fear the turbines are going to be very visual from Porthcawl Bay

Peter Black, AM

However, Liberal Democrat AM, Peter Black, said he has received concerns from people living near the site about the positioning of the site.

"There are a number of people who support alternative energy but would like the location of this wind farm to be reconsidered," he said.

The site which is to the west of Porthcawl is approximately four miles from the nearest household.

"The people who have written to me fear the turbines are going to be very visual from Porthcawl Bay and people are worried that tourism will be affected," he added.

The site, is one of 18 around the UK coastline, which has been made available by the Crown Estate as a way of helping the Government achieve its target of providing 10 per cent of the UK's energy from renewable sources by 2010.

A public exhibition on the proposals will be held at Porthcawl Pavilion 18 and 19 October and at Rest Bay car park from 23 to 25 October