May 29, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
Four environment groups have united to fight plans by Glyndebourne Opera House for a 70m (230ft) wind turbine.
Glyndebourne wants to site the 850kw turbine on Mill Plain, between Ringmer and Glyndebourne in East Sussex.
“The position in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Park designate is absolutely wrong,” said Dr Tony Parker of the South Downs Society.
Glyndebourne says the turbine will be a “landmark” which will reduce its carbon emissions by 71%.
‘Massive detriment’
The South Downs Society is supported by the Council for National Parks, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Ramblers Association.
“The reason the four rural protection groups have come together is because this represents a massive detriment to the South Downs without any perceivable impact on the carbon footprint,” said Dr Parker.
A windmill once stood on the proposed site, on Mill Plain, but Dr Parker said the turbine would be four times higher.
“To put it in context, it would be higher than the clock face on Big Ben,” he said.
Glyndebourne chairman, Gus Christie, said the site was surrounded by trees, which meant the sound of the turbine would not carry as far as the opera house or the village of Ringmer.
“In this day and age the careful siting of these turbines is vital to show we are doing our bit to combat climate change,” he said.
“With the terrible consequences of global warming, it is crazy to be obstructing one single turbine in one’s field of vision.”
The planning application will be considered by Lewes District Council in July.
29 May 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/05/29/fury-around-glyndebourne-turbine/