FECKENHAM Parish Council has slammed plans to build a battery storage system in the village, citing concerns for the environment.
In June plans were submitted to Redditch Borough Council by Immersa for a battery energy storage compound on land on Astwood Lane.
This is the fourth Battery Electrical Storage System (BESS) planning application for Feckenham.
Feckenham Parish Council has objected to the plans, claiming it fears it will become the next step in a massive cumulative industrial development within protected green belt agricultural land.
Chairman of Feckenham Parish Council Alan Smith said: “The planning committee has an opportunity to avoid the chaos this proposal may cause, with the risk of catastrophic fire close to our school and village and a detrimental effect on the environment, rural setting and historical assets of the locality, by refusing this application.”
The parish council is worried Immerse has not properly evaluated the fire risk.
Immersa has disputed this, saying it was working closely with the fire service to ensure the storage system met all of the requirements.
Robert Miles, CEO of Immersa, said: “As with all our projects, we always consider and address information and concerns including regular corrections of misleading or incorrect statements made in objections to our projects.
“With a history dating back to the 1950s and covering 25 acres of land, Feckenham is one the largest and longstanding substations in the country and is crucial in facilitating energy exchange between the Midlands and the Home Counties.
“This strategic position makes it a natural choice for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects, as proximity to substations is imperative for enhancing grid stability and resiliency, something the UK’s energy infrastructure certainly needs.
“BESS is the most cost-effective way to help the UK hit net zero.
“We are working with the fire service and we aim to collaborate closely with the Feckenham Parish Council to clarify any points of confusion and always explore opportunities to mitigate any project’s potential impact.”
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