Wind of change at Ravenside

In newspaper parlance you get the feeling the debate over Ravenside Retail Park's wind turbine will run and run - at least until Rother's planning committee sit down to make a decision.

And a tricky one it will be.

How do you reconcile environmental concerns with the desire of neighbours to keep their patch of Bexhill as aesthetically pleasing as possible? Assuming you find the plan unattractive in the first place that is.

It has to be said, the retail park is hardly pleasing on the eye as it is.

However the turbine, despite being 'small scale' in relative terms, will still be clearly visible on the landscape - standing at 46 feet tall.

The trade -off of course is that developers also plan to 'upgrade' the look of the present shopping centre.

Leaseholder, Land Securities, has also pledged the design will be 'appropriate' for the immediate environment.

Some local home owners aren't seeing it that way - objections are already being lodged on Rother's website.

The future of our planet is the great debate of the moment.

All of us must be willing to do our bit, however small, to safeguard it for future generations.

If the coastal winds allow Ravenside to significantly reduce its carbon footprint then the idea should be applauded.

If though, as protesters are already claiming, it would provide little of the electricity the site actually requires it must be asked if creating such a towering centrepiece would be worthwhile.

The applicants hope such an upgrade could draw shoppers to a retail centre already losing out to bigger parks in Hastings and Eastbourne

Rother District Council has already stated its 'commitment to green issues and sustainable energy.'

Although commendable, that statement could place them in a tricky situation.

To reject the plan could leave them open to a curious double-pronged attack from the green lobby and big business.

If, to make a terrible pun, they give it the 'green light' they could be left facing the wrath of residents and voters eager for the horizon to remain uncluttered.