Rothwell residents are relieved after plans to build a lithium battery farm in the neighbourhood have been withdrawn by the developers.
The controversial plans would have seen a the battery farm built off of Westfield Road in Carlton and there were fears it could have become a fire hazard. Just last month, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said the risk of an explosion was "unfortunately very real” as other similar facilities have previously gone up in flames.
Developers Firma Vogt have withdrawn the plans, much to the relief of locals. The company has yet to say why they have done this.
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Resident John Francis, 67, said he and his neighbours were delighted the plans had been withdrawn. "It feels as if a weight’s been lifted off our shoulders," he said. "When the news came through everyone was ectastic to be honest.
"Every day you’re thinking about it, and thinking ‘what else can we do?’ ‘Is there another avenue we can go down’?
"You can be quite pessimistic about this sort of thing and you think they’ll probably get planning permission, but everyone’s very happy it’s been withdrawn."
He said the plans had actually brought the community closer together as 600 people formally objected to the development. Since the plans were submitted in late January, posters have sprung up on lamposts across Carlton and Rothwell and neighbours have set up Whatsapp groups to share ideas and information.
Firma Vogt wanted to build the facility on a strip of farmland on Westfield Road measuring just over four acres. Just last month, the company said it was "reviewing feedback" from objectors, but insisted battery storage facilities were "crucial for a sustainable and reliable energy future."
It also said it had put forward a fire safety plan to minimise risk. Battery farms effectively suck in power from renewable energy sources, before releasing it back into circulation, thus reducing people’s reliance on fossil fuels.
One such site in Liverpool blew up in 2020, with the ensuing fire raging for more than two days.
In their comment on Firma Vogt’s application in March, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "The risks of vapour cloud, thermal runaway and explosion are unfortunately very real and are becoming more common as we see an increase in the number of BESS (battery energy storage system) installations rise."
According to scientists, the lithium within the batteries can overheat and become ablaze and the fires are very difficult to extinguish with water. The Fire Service said simply letting the unit burn itself out would also have huge consequences for local people.
They said: "If we were to let it burn there would be a significant impact on the highly populated suburbs which would all be significantly impacted from the vapour/smoke plume.
"It is likely that we’d require Westfield Road be closed for a minimum of 24 hours."
The council’s environmental health team objected to the proposals too, on the grounds that night-time noise may have disturbed neighbours during the summer months when windows are open.
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