Concern parish being 'plundered' for battery sites

An application for a battery energy storage system at The Roughs, at Dimmingsdale, in Lower Penn was considered by planning officials on Tuesday

An area of South Staffordshire earmarked for eight separate battery energy storage site applications is being "plundered", said a parish council leader.

Three battery energy storage systems (BESS) applications have already been approved for Lower Penn, with a further three awaiting decision, said Lower Penn Parish Council.

South Staffordshire Council also considered two separate BESS proposals for sites in Flash Lane, Orton, near Wombourne and The Roughs, at Dimmingsdale, in Lower Penn on Tuesday.

Steve McEwen, chair of Lower Penn Parish Council, described the 100MW BESS site proposed for Dimmingsdale as a "monster".

He said to planning officers: "We urge you to defer this decision to allow much more careful review and assessment – we need more time

"It will impose huge detrimental changes to the community of Lower Penn.

"This technology is still at an early stage of development – consequently, risks and safety are in question.

"Congestion is very serious in Lower Penn, just having 500 metres between these installations is so tight. We're being plundered in Lower Penn."

The Orton application was approved by just one vote - but the planning committee agreed to defer their decision on the Dimmingsdale proposal after a site visit.

This news has been gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.