Energy storage site rejected over stability fears

Battery energy storage systems like the one pictured above store surplus electricity

Plans for an electricity storage site have been rejected over land stability fears.

Lower Coalmoor BESS applied to Telford and Wrekin Council to build the battery energy storage system near Buildwas Bank in Coalbrookdale.

The site would have stored energy when there was a surplus and supplied it at times of high demand.

But members of the council's planning committee turned the application down and said there were more suitable sites.

Agents acting for the company said the site would help "meet the national need for energy security, bring down bills and reach net zero".

“There is an urgent need to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions," they added.

But committee member Arnold England recalled concerns when the Ironbridge bypass was built.

He said: “We know the gorge is geologically young, we know a lot of work has taken place to ensure some stability, we know Jiggers Bank has virtually collapsed on more than one occasion, so there is a risk of land instability in that general area."

Another councillor, Nigel Dugmore, added: "This is a 40 year installation and how many times have Jiggers Bank been shored up or had work done to it in the last 40 years?"

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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