Giant South Downs Wind Turbine: Government Intervenes

21 August 2007

Leading countryside organizations have today (Tuesday 21st August 2007) welcomed the government’s decision to call-in the application for a 230-foot wind turbine at Glyndebourne on the South Downs, in a location which forms part of the designated National Park. 

The Secretary of State, Hazel Blears, will decide the application herself because she believes it may conflict with national policies on important matters. 

The Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Council for National Parks, the Open Spaces Society, the Ramblers’ Association and the South Downs Society are campaigning against the proposed turbine.  If built, it will be the biggest turbine in a National Park and as tall as a 24-storey skyscraper, and it will be visible over hundreds of square miles.
  
Roy Haycock of the Sussex Campaign to Protect Rural England said: “If this giant turbine goes ahead, it will destroy the beauty of the downs for miles around.  We are delighted that the government has decided to call it in.  A public inquiry will now be held, and we will fight hard against this turbine.”

Jacquetta Fewster of the South Downs Society said: “The government seldom intervenes in this way.  But the Glyndebourne turbine is a very special case.  It conflicts with national policy and it has caused substantial controversy.  Hundreds of letters have been sent against the siting of such a huge turbine on such a prominent location.  It is absolutely right for the Secretary of State to have called in the matter”.

Patrick Grady of the Ramblers’ Association said: “All the countryside protection organizations are in favour of renewable energy, but it’s got to be the right type of technology in the right place.  There are other ways Glyndebourne can reduce its carbon footprint without damaging this beautiful and historic part of the countryside.”  

Kate Ashbrook of the Open Spaces Society said: “This wind turbine will be a terrible eyesore. The users of the three footpaths on the site will suffer not only from the sight of this excrescence but also from the significant noise it will generate.  We are delighted the Secretary of State has decided to call-in the case.”

Ruth Chambers of the Council for National Parks said: “We welcome the Secretary of State acting to call-in this application.  The South Downs are of national importance and it is vital that, as the confirmation of the National Park edges ever closer, scrutiny of damaging developments like the Glyndebourne wind turbine remains ever-vigilant.”

At a meeting last month, the planning officers of Lewes District Council recommended the proposal be rejected because of the significant harm the turbine would cause to the South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a landscape which is protected by national, regional and local countryside protection policies.  Lewes District Council ignored the advice of their planning officers, and voted 6:4 in favour of the proposal.  Now that the Secretary of State has intervened, the final decision to allow or reject the turbine will rest with an independent inspector.

For further information, please contact
Kate Ashbrook (Open Spaces Society) 01491 573535 or 07771 655694
Jacquetta Fewster (South Downs Society) tel 01798 875073 or 0780 1233582, or
Roy Haycock (CPRE Sussex) tel 01243 814398

NOTES
CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. Sussex Branch has over 2,000 members with 11 districts representing members across the County.

The Council for National Parks (CNP) 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.

The Open Spaces Society, founded in 1865, is Britain’s oldest national conservation body. It campaigns to protect and create common land, town and village greens and public rights of way.

The Ramblers' Association is Britain's biggest organization working for walkers. A registered charity with 137,000 members across England, Scotland and Wales, it has been looking after Britain's footpaths and defending its beautiful countryside since 1935.

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. It was established in 1923 and successfully defeated proposals for unsuitable coastal development overlooking the famous Seven Sisters area.

For press queries please contact:
Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
020 7924 4077 ext. 222