New Battery Plant Approved in Slimbridge Despite Safety Concerns
Despite objections from local authorities and environmental groups, plans for a new battery storage power station in Slimbridge have been approved. The facility, proposed by Relay Slimbridge Ltd, will occupy a two-acre site near Kingston Road, accommodating a 36-megawatt capacity along with a 132kV transformer.
Slimbridge Parish Council and the Wildlife and Wetland Trust expressed concerns about potential fire hazards and the release of toxic fumes, highlighting risks to the area's daily visitors, including up to 2,600 people at the Wildlife and Wetland Trust alone. Councillor Lindsey Green noted existing traffic congestion issues on surrounding roads.
In response, developers assured the Stroud District Council of a comprehensive ecological assessment and detailed evacuation plans supervised by fire safety experts. They emphasized the track record of similar installations in the UK, citing minimal incidents over nearly two decades.
The decision, approved with ten votes in favor and two abstentions by the development control committee, includes measures such as extensive hedging and tree planting around the site to mitigate visual and ecological impacts.
Source: bbc.com
