Glyndebourne Turbine: Green controversy as Environmental Protection Consortium fights to protect South Downs
An Environmental Protection Consortium which links up green groups will be challenging plans for a giant wind turbine on the South Downs near Glyndebourne when a Planning Inquiry opens in Lewes on Tuesday 26th February 2008.
The South Downs Environmental Protection Consortium is supported by the South Downs Society, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), the Ramblers’ Association, the Council for National Parks and the Open Spaces Society. They have all spoken out against the turbine proposal. They will line up at the inquiry alongside Natural England, the government’s advisory body on the countryside, the South Downs Joint Committee, and many local residents.
On Tuesday 26th February the environmental battle will begin in Lewes, with green arguments being raised by the consortium at a public inquiry set to run for two weeks at the White Hart hotel.
Glyndebourne Opera House is promoting its plan to build a giant wind turbine on a hillside in the South Downs above the village of Ringmer near Lewes. The Opera House claims the 230 foot turbine will help it reduce its production of greenhouse gases and global warming. But local and national conservation groups are joining forces with local residents to oppose the scheme which they say will cause disproportionate environmental damage.
Lewes District Councillors tried to approve the scheme last summer despite advice from their own officers they should not do so. The government was so concerned that they blocked the turbine by “calling in” the decision to a Public Inquiry.
Jacquetta Fewster, Director of the South Downs Society, said, “The Environmental Protection Consortium is in favour of renewable energy. However, this particular turbine would have a seriously damaging visual impact on the Downs. This is too precious a landscape to allow it to be despoiled. The turbine is clearly the wrong scheme in the wrong place”.
Stuart Meier, Director of CPRE Sussex, believes that the Government is right to be concerned, “Make no mistake, this is one of the biggest threats to the Sussex countryside in recent years. It’s ironic that just weeks after 150 local and national organisations declare their support for protecting the South Downs as a National Park, this damaging turbine proposal comes to an Inquiry. While it’s good to hear that Glyndebourne want to reduce their carbon footprint, this is simply the wrong way to set about it”.
Malcolm McDonnell of the Sussex Branch of the Ramblers’ Association added, “Wind power has an important role to play in providing clean, renewable energy. We believe it is possible to meet energy needs and reduce greenhouse gases without damaging our most valuable landscapes. We’re firmly opposing this huge turbine because it will be an eyesore for visitors to this part of the Downs and will be highly visible from long stretches of the South Downs Way. This is an important part of a National Trail and it’s absolutely essential that these key routes are protected from this sort of industrial paraphernalia.”
And Ruth Chambers, Deputy Chief Executive of the Council for National Parks, pointed out, “Local people are rightly very concerned about the prospect of this enormous construction in a highly sensitive Downland landscape, but it also raises important national issues as it would be the largest turbine in any National Park in England once the Park comes into being. We are fully behind the local groups in opposing this threat to a precious landscape.”
Local residents are planning to meet up outside the White Hart on Tuesday 26 February 2008 at 9.40am to show their concern, before going in to hear the opening arguments from all the parties.
The Inquiry Inspector will report his findings to the government minister for decision later in the year.
Contacts:
Jacquetta Fewster (Director South Downs Society) 01798 875073 (office) or 07891 233582 (mobile)
Stuart Meier (CPRE Sussex) 01444 441645 or 07711 741947 (mobile)
NOTES
1. The public inquiry will take place at the White Hart Hotel, High Street, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1XE. The inquiry will open on Tuesday 26 February and will run for 6 days over two weeks.
2. The Council for National Parks is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England and Wales, and areas that merit National Park status, and promote understanding and quiet enjoyment of them for the benefit of all.
3. The Open Spaces Society is Britain’s oldest conservation charity, protecting common land, open spaces and public paths, and more widely, defending the countryside.
4. The Ramblers’ Association is Britain’s “biggest walking charity” with almost 140,000 members, working for over 70 years to promote walking and to improve conditions for everyone who walks in England, Wales and Scotland.
5. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. Founded in 1926 and now with over 60,000 members nationally, CPRE Sussex has over 2,000 members across the county.
6. The South Downs Society is a charity set up to conserve and enhance the beauty and amenities of the South Downs for the benefit of the public and has over 2,000 members. It was established in 1923 and successfully defeated proposals for unsuitable coastal development overlooking the famous Seven Sisters.
7. The South Downs was designated as a National Park in 2003. A public inquiry into the designation closed in March 2005 and has just reopened in February 2008 in Worthing to consider a number of outstanding issues.
8. The South Downs Joint Committee exists to protect, conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the South Downs, and promote opportunities for the understanding and quiet enjoyment of the area’s special qualities, and encourage sustainable forms of economic and community development.
PHOTOCALL
Objectors will be holding a demonstration at 9.40am on Tuesday 26 February outside the White Hart Hotel, Lewes.