Glyndebourne to harness power of wind instrument

Glyndebourne today won approval to build a wind turbine which will power future productions at the opera house, despite residents' objections.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears gave the go ahead for the 70 metre-high turbine on the site of a former windmill at Mill Plain, between the villages of Glyndebourne and Ringmer in East Sussex.

The decision follows a six-day public inquiry in February and local residents maintain that the turbine will be an eyesore across the South Downs.

Jacquetta Fewster, a director of the South Downs Society, said: "We are disappointed by the Government's decision. Although it's good that the Government is taking the issue of climate change more seriously, in our view the huge wind turbine is the wrong development in the wrong place."

But in a letter to residents today, Ms Blears said the turbine was not a "major development", would not have a harmful impact on local residents and its effect on the area of outstanding natural beauty was "outweighed by the benefits".

The opera company behind the venue says the turbine, expected to be completed in 2010, will help cut carbon emissions by 70 per cent and welcomed the decision.

David Pickard general director of Glyndebourne Productions said: " Glyndebourne Productions Limited is delighted that the Secretary of State, Hazel Blears has granted permission for Glyndebourne to build a wind turbine. This is a significant step for Glyndebourne in its continued drive to take responsibility for the impact it has on the environment.

"The turbine will supply the opera house with clean renewable energy and will reduce its carbon emissions by 70 per cent." It will consist of a 44-metre tower and a three-bladed rotor with a diameter of 52 metres which is expected to generate up to 850 kilowatts of energy.

A weather monitoring mast will be erected on site later this year, to measure wind speeds for 12 months before bosses put the turbine up. Glyndebourne is planning a major educational programme as the turbine is built, explaining to local schoolchildren and visitors exactly how it works.

The production company is also making further attempts to cut its carbon emissions including a ban on operagoers arriving at the site by helicopter next year. Experts estimate that Britain has 40 per cent of Europe's total wind energy, although only 0.5 per cent of our electricity requirements are currently generated by wind power.