Glyndebourne plans wind turbine

Glynebourne wants to site the turbine on Mill Plain

Glyndebourne Opera House is planning to generate all its own electricity by building a 70m (230ft) wind turbine.

It wants to site the 850kw turbine on Mill Plain, between Ringmer and Glyndebourne in East Sussex.

"The turbine would become a new landmark for East Sussex - a visual reminder of the importance of renewable energy," a spokeswoman said.

A planning application is to be submitted to Lewes District Council later this month.

'Reducing emissions'

If permission is granted work will begin on the turbine in 2008.

It has the support of Sir David Attenborough, who said: "Wind turbines provide a most valuable way of reducing our carbon dioxide emissions and I fully support Glyndebourne's initiative."

An exhibition explaining the scheme to local people was mounted in the autumn and leaflets distributed.

Glyndebourne says 85% of people surveyed supported the scheme.

Experts have been engaged to assess the archaeological and ecological impact of the scheme, as well as how it will affect bird and bat populations.