Eastbourne Borough Council has been granted planning permission to fly a captive helium balloon above the Redoubt Fortress from March 2007 subject to Government Approval. Known as the ‘The Hiflyer’ the balloon is manufactured by Lindstrand Technologies whose founder Per Linstrand flew across the Atlantic in the ICO/Virgin challenger with Richard Branson.
Eastbourne Borough Council’s Cabinet spokesperson for Environment, Tourism and Economy, Councillor David Elkin, says, “This new and exciting attraction will offer a unique vista of the town and seafront panorama and be an adventure for all ages and abilities. Currently the Redoubt is home to the biggest military museum in the South East and with large numbers of people taking to the skies, it is hoped that they will also visit our beautiful restored Napoleonic fortress.”
Passenger carrying balloons were first seen in the skies over one hundred years ago and Eastbourne did in fact have a gas filled captive balloon that flew from Devonshire Park in 1895. Now this nineteenth century inspiration has been brought up to date.
The Redoubt Fortress is a scheduled monument and to fly the balloon from the site has needed the permission of English Heritage. The operators and the Council are now waiting on a decision of how the balloon should be stored during the winter months from the Secretary of State’s Office.
