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.
In a letter to principal Planning Officer Paul Lester, the parish council said: “The Lithium-ion battery units each have a lifetime of about eight years and will need replacing up to five times during the 40-year duration of the BESS site.
“Each lorry-sized container weighs 19tonnes.
“Thus the facility will generate about 22,800 tons of heavy-duty industrial waste, including 5,000 tons of toxic lithium chemicals.
“Immersa, whilst claiming they are contributing to net zero, makes absolutely no mention of this massive toxic legacy.
“The planning officer has not accounted for this in reaching his recommendation to forego a full Environmental Impact Assessment, which is wrong.”
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.
“We acknowledge that BESS projects can present unique challenges to nearby communities.
“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.
“An open and transparent dialogue will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the project’s benefits and how we can collectively work towards minimising any potential impact on the community.”
