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Coastal windfarm "could hurt Downs" (From The Argus)
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Coastal windfarm "could hurt Downs"
2:30pm Sunday 29th April 2012 in News By Rebecca Evans
Environmental campaigners say plans a massive windfarm off the Sussex coast will cause “heavy” damage and disruption to the South Downs National Park.
The South Downs Society has called for E.ON to provide a “substantial package of environmental improvements” to mitigate the damage done in the laying of miles of underground cabling.
The energy giant wants to build the turbines that would create enough electricity to power 450,000 homes.
It will require miles of cabling that will run from the sea to Bolney substation.
The society said it wants E.ON to make a “big financial contribution” to a range of environmental packages in return for its support of the Rampion project.
The society said it has given its “qualified” support for the wind turbines – but at a price.
It wants the energy company to move existing “unsightly” overhead power lines underground and clear the old Shoreham cement works nearby.
Society chairman Robert Cheesman said: “We support clean, green energy from wind but we have to protect the national park, designated as one of the country’s most precious landscapes.
“In general we believe offshore wind farms are more acceptable than those in the countryside or near to people’s homes. You’ll be able to see these turbines from the seafront and from key viewpoints in the Downs. We certainly don’t think they’ll improve the view but we may have to live with that if they produce a significant energy output."
E.ON has already pledged to avoid environmentally and historically significant areas when laying the cable, including the route of the Adur river valley.
It said grass and hedgerows will also be replaced.
Chris Tomlinson, Rampion development manager, said it is too early to commit to major infrastructure projects.
He said: “E.ON has a strong track record with existing offshore wind farms of working with communities and supporting local initiatives and projects. However, it’s too early for us to be considering specific projects and those suggested by the South Downs Society are significant infrastructure projects in their own right and we have no authority over the pylons of other energy companies or the cement works, which is not within our cable route."
Comments(28)
Hard times
says...
2:58pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Fercri Sakes
says...
3:30pm Sun 29 Apr 12
fredaj
says...
3:45pm Sun 29 Apr 12
They must not be removed.
HJarrs
says...
5:13pm Sun 29 Apr 12
pwlr1966
says...
5:27pm Sun 29 Apr 12
george smith
says...
5:36pm Sun 29 Apr 12
pwlr1966 wrote:Yep, they usually speak in annoying soft voices and pretend they know much more than they actually do. Their real passion is funding
When the new power station was built at Shoreham Harbour, miles of the downs was dug up to lay new cables, I challenge these objectors to see what long term damage was done.....none, nimbies at the very worst
Joshiman
says...
5:57pm Sun 29 Apr 12
rolivan
says...
6:04pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Joshiman wrote:It doesn't have to be about reducing bills it is more about sustainable resources surely.
We will fight to the end.There will be no Wind farms on the Downs nor in the sea .This has to be the con of the century.It will not reduce anyone's bills.In the USA the wind farms are now derelict.The only people to make money are the energy firms like EON.
graham_Seagull
says...
6:26pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Joshiman wrote:Yay! I'm with you.
We will fight to the end.There will be no Wind farms on the Downs nor in the sea .This has to be the con of the century.It will not reduce anyone's bills.In the USA the wind farms are now derelict.The only people to make money are the energy firms like EON.
I want to carry on paying more and more of my hard earned cash to higher and higher utility bills so despotic regimes can hold us to ransome. Nice
Fight Back
says...
6:44pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Joshiman wrote:Strange how it works in France then !!!!!
We will fight to the end.There will be no Wind farms on the Downs nor in the sea .This has to be the con of the century.It will not reduce anyone's bills.In the USA the wind farms are now derelict.The only people to make money are the energy firms like EON.
Like the way the nimbies think blackmail is the way to go - we'll support it BUT only if you do this, this and this. Either the idea is a good one or a bad one - there shouldn't be conditions attached around things that aren't directly related. We really need a big field on the downs where we can herd all the nimbies and shoot them.
dsvm22
says...
7:12pm Sun 29 Apr 12
rolivan
says...
8:04pm Sun 29 Apr 12
HJarrs
says...
8:36pm Sun 29 Apr 12
Joshiman wrote:Where are these derelict wind farms in the US? Is this just in your head? Apparently, the US is going to be the biggest renewables market in the world this year, of which a sizeable proportion will be wind turbines.
We will fight to the end.There will be no Wind farms on the Downs nor in the sea .This has to be the con of the century.It will not reduce anyone's bills.In the USA the wind farms are now derelict.The only people to make money are the energy firms like EON.
While you may be obsessed by your bills, I think the additional costs of renewables are a small price to pay for avoiding the worst of climate change that we are bringing down on future generations; an unfashionable topic but hasn't gone away.
Of course, you should be reducing your demand over time by using more energy efficient appliances, better insulation and controlling ventilation in your property, all of which bring your bills back down.
saveHOVE
says...
8:52pm Sun 29 Apr 12
fredaj
says...
9:11pm Sun 29 Apr 12
saveHOVE wrote:The wind farm will be plumbed into the National Grid, at Bolney.
Who is EON going to 'give' this electricity to? Some say France will be the beneficiary - EDF is, for instance, French. And they will sell it to whoever gives them the profit level they want. But Brighton and the Downs will have to take the physical burden and unsightliness - the visuals on this show the turbines-at-sea looking like a line of barbed wire along the horizon.
HJarrs
says...
9:14pm Sun 29 Apr 12
saveHOVE wrote:A gross sum of electricity may or maynot go abroad but the electrons generated will likely find a customer in B&H, thereby generating near the demand.
Who is EON going to 'give' this electricity to? Some say France will be the beneficiary - EDF is, for instance, French. And they will sell it to whoever gives them the profit level they want. But Brighton and the Downs will have to take the physical burden and unsightliness - the visuals on this show the turbines-at-sea looking like a line of barbed wire along the horizon.
antonyA
says...
10:11pm Sun 29 Apr 12
boblat
says...
12:29am Mon 30 Apr 12
inmegarden
says...
1:07am Mon 30 Apr 12
antonyA wrote:I think you're on to something...good work!
Are wind farms Eco Freindly??? IF you steal the wind from its natural direction sureley behond that farm you would change the climate thus not Eco friendly...??????
boblat
says...
1:26am Mon 30 Apr 12
inmegarden wrote:You 2 can go back to the 'NUT' farm quick quick?? Kinell !!
antonyA wrote:I think you're on to something...good work!
Are wind farms Eco Freindly??? IF you steal the wind from its natural direction sureley behond that farm you would change the climate thus not Eco friendly...??????
worthing saint
says...
3:10am Mon 30 Apr 12
boblat wrote:Wow ignorance is bliss, or so they say.
All this energy is wasted on a negative attempt to disrupt a proper progression that, one day, will use natural resources to power our lavish lifestyle, instead of oil and coal..Maybe your energies should be directed at Northern Petroleum PLC. who have obtained a licence from West Sussex CC to drill for OIL at Markwells Wood, a beauty spot on the South Downs..I, for one would sooner look across the sea at wind turbines, than see BLACK Sheep grazing on the Downs ??..
People have looked out from the downs for more than 2 thousand years, to a beautiful site, the English channel.
You would see this wonderful view, obstructed, by 150 wind turbines.
Thus affecting our local, day fishing boats, another attack, on our local economy, for a minor saving to your electric bill.
We would do far better by installing solar panels on every home, along the south coast, than this unsightly mess off our coast.
southwicker2
says...
7:26am Mon 30 Apr 12
graham_Seagull
says...
8:48am Mon 30 Apr 12
worthing saint wrote:The last time the downs were under deep water was at a time when the amospheric CO2 content as much higher than now, although we're heading in that direction pretty fast. What price your view from the Downs then eh?
boblat wrote:Wow ignorance is bliss, or so they say.
All this energy is wasted on a negative attempt to disrupt a proper progression that, one day, will use natural resources to power our lavish lifestyle, instead of oil and coal..Maybe your energies should be directed at Northern Petroleum PLC. who have obtained a licence from West Sussex CC to drill for OIL at Markwells Wood, a beauty spot on the South Downs..I, for one would sooner look across the sea at wind turbines, than see BLACK Sheep grazing on the Downs ??..
People have looked out from the downs for more than 2 thousand years, to a beautiful site, the English channel.
You would see this wonderful view, obstructed, by 150 wind turbines.
Thus affecting our local, day fishing boats, another attack, on our local economy, for a minor saving to your electric bill.
We would do far better by installing solar panels on every home, along the south coast, than this unsightly mess off our coast.
Will600000
says...
9:11am Mon 30 Apr 12
Lastly, great writing from the reporter ! The first line makes no sense :-/
sunsetoneuk
says...
12:01pm Mon 30 Apr 12
salty_pete
says...
1:32pm Mon 30 Apr 12
quedula
says...
3:51pm Mon 30 Apr 12
Joshiman wrote:The object of wind energy isn't to reduce bills but to ensure diversity and long term protection of energy supplies.
We will fight to the end.There will be no Wind farms on the Downs nor in the sea .This has to be the con of the century.It will not reduce anyone's bills.In the USA the wind farms are now derelict.The only people to make money are the energy firms like EON.
rolivan says...
2:45pm Sun 29 Apr 12
As for them clearing up the Old Cement works could Mr Cheeseman be more specific as I thought the site was being used.