Safety fears raised at appeal hearing for controversial Leeds battery plant
People living near the site of a proposed battery plant in Leeds have called for a council decision to block the project to be upheld.
A planning appeal heard fire safety fears over the controversial scheme near Ledston and Allerton Bywater.
Harmony Energy lodged an appeal after Leeds City Council refused planning permission for the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
The company insisted the scheme would be safe after concerns were raised over the risk of fire and potential water contamination.
Jim Tough, representing the company, said: “It is an extremely low risk.”
Lynne Howard, of action group Save Our Villages, said the nearest fire stations were in Garforth and Castleford.
She said: “So there are inadequate West Yorkshire services in the vicinity.
“We need to know that if anything is approved and built, it is safe.”
The site was was in an area prone to flooding and close to Fairburn Ings nature reserve, the hearing at Leeds Civic Hall was told.
Mr Tough said: “I should point out that BESSs are being monitored 24-7 in an operational control room.”
Planning permission was refused in August after more than 1,000 people objected to the proposed scheme off Newton Lane.
Along with fire safety. the impact on green belt land was cited as a reason for refusal.
Labour council leader James Lewis, who was among the objectors and represents Kippax and Methley, said: “Clearly a BESS is a visually harmful development, in my view.”
The refusal decision went against the advice of council officers, who said the site could be downgraded to “grey belt”, deemed less environmentally important.
The hearing was told the council had since conceded the green belt argument in agreement with the developer.
But the two sides still disagreed over whether there were adequate safety measures and the council was concerned over access for fire engines.
A site visit was planned as part of the appeal process and a decision is yet to be issued.