GLYNDEBOURNE OPERA HOUSE THREATENS THE BEAUTY OF THE SOUTH DOWNS
The South Downs Society today (15 November 2006) called on Glyndebourne Opera House to scrap plans to build a massive wind turbine on its estate on the South Downs. The proposed turbine at 70m in height will be as high as a 24-storey building.
Jacquetta Fewster, the newly-appointed Director of the South Downs Society, said: "Climate change is a serious problem, but erecting industrial-scale turbines in beautiful countryside is not the way to tackle it. Instead, other renewable-energy technologies should be developed which are not damaging to the lanscape, all new housing developments should have renewable energy and energy-conservation systems built in, and public transport should be improved."
The Glyndebourne Estate, which boasts that its "grounds are encircled by gracious hills and in whichever direction one looks the eye is met by views of unspoilt natural loveliness," wants to build the turbine at Mill Plain, in the beautiful countryside between Glyndebourne and Ringmer in East Sussex.
Jon Martin, the Chairman of the South Downs Society, continued: "If this giant turbine is built, it will blight the iconic South Downs landscape for miles around. The door will be opened to tens of other similar turbines and all the associated new roads that would come with them. At 70m, the turbine would be taller than the 22-storey Chartwell Court skyscraper in Brighton. We call on Glyndebourne to scrap their proposal now".