GIANT TURBINE ON SOUTH DOWNS MOVES CLOSER
The South Downs Society today (19 January 2007) called on Glyndebourne Opera to rethink its plans to build a large wind turbine on hills in the South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The planning application, which was submitted yesterday afternoon to Lewes District Council, proposes the building of a 70m wind turbine on the famous south downs hills near Lewes.
“The South Downs Society is not opposed to renewable energy”, said Jon Martin, chairman of the South Downs Society, “but it is vital that we protect the few areas of unspoilt countryside we have in the south east from large-scale developments such as these.”
Jacquetta Fewster, Director of the Society, said “This turbine will be generating most power in the winter, when the winds are strong, and not in the summer when visitors flock to the opera. We are pleased that Glyndebourne is thinking green, but rather than spoil the landscape, it should begin by reducing its impact on the environment, by doing more to help visitors travel by public transport for example.”
At 70m in height, the turbine would be visible over hundreds of square miles, and would be as tall as a 24-storey skyscraper.
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For further information, please contact Jacquetta Fewster, Director, South Downs Society, tel 01798 875073, 07801 233582
Objection letter and supporting documents can be seen by clicking on the attached links:
Objection letter to Lewes District Council