Our Downland community, both chalk and greensand, clearly wishes to do its bit to increase our renewable energy output.

There are various renewable energy sources, including wind turbines, but the thought of them dominating our skylines caused us to delve deeper into wind turbine claims. The South Downs Society was instrumental in challenging the calculations to justify a huge 70m (230ft) wind turbine on the handsome shoulder of the Down behind Glynde, east of Lewes.

We hired a wind turbine expert who demonstrated that the turbine supplier's claimed performance data (load factor) appeared to be grossly exaggerated.

Likewise the two giant East Meon turbines' load factor, checked by CPRE Hampshire, appeared to be overstated by at least 50 per cent.

Nor is it mentioned that, when the wind drops, fossil fuel power stations have to cover the electricity shortfall. There are 15 separate council planning authorities spread along the Downs within the new national park boundary – we are sure they do their best to balance the community interests.

However, they are taking individual territorial decisions which create piecemeal precedent.

Despite the data, Lewes District Council, by majority vote, approved the Glynde Turbine application.

There are various means by which we in the park can reduce our fossil fuel consumption and generate alternative energy, including solar, earth and air heat pumps, timber burning (biomass), etc.

For example, Sussex and Hampshire are endowed with substantial low value woodlands. Why is burning biomass not encouraged more? With the honourable exceptions of the West Dean Estate and Queen Elizabeth Country Park Centre in East Hampshire and of course many redoubtable householders, we are not aware of any attempt to promote biomass for heating small communal housing projects.

The building trade will remain conservative unless encouraged through the plannng system.

The incoming National Park Authority will be taking a strategic view of trans-park planning issues, and hopefully energy efficiency and renewable energy generation will figure high in their priorities.

John Songhurst

Chairman, South Downs Society

Swan Court, Pulborough

I recently wrote to Readers' Letters about the dangers of using the cycle path alongside Riverside walk in Petersfield. I would like to thank everyone who uses that path who now gives warning of their approach by bell or verbally.

Imagine my alarm – and I am sure that of all children, parents, pedestrians and cyclists – when I find that there is a plan now being discussed to turn the pedestrian/cycle path at the end of Heathfield Road (adjoining the fields of Penns Place and the Taro Centre) into an access road for vehicles, which will merge with school children, pedestrians and cyclists at a very narrow and potentially dangerous point.

This is an extremely quiet and safe area, which more pedestrians and cyclists use than motorists.