IMPORTANT ENERGY APPLICATION UPDATE Nov 24

Letter to Parishioners from FPC Chair Nov 24 v2

By now you should have received, by post, details of the latest Battery Energy Storage Facility (BESS), from “Boom Energy” They are offering a presentation at the village Hall on Thursday 28th November between the hours of 14.00 – 19.00.
This is currently the fourth such proposal, but you should also be aware that there are at least 4 – 5 others that the parish council believe are in the pipeline.
Over the past couple of years or so, the Parish Council have been advising of the possibility of the “tsunami” of such applications. We have held meetings, conducted leaflet drops, put articles in the parish magazine, face book, and the council web site. The “Tsunami” is now on the horizon.
We have advertised for volunteers to form an action group, and at the time of writing have a group of approximately eighteen people. The inaugural meeting was held recently, and the action group will now be acting on such applications based on the views of the parishioners. This will be separate to the parish council.
This is your parish please attend the presentation by Boom Energy if you can, hear what the applicant has to say, and make your views known.
There will be presentations by the Action Group in the village hall, as set out below.
Thursday 5th December 5-8pm Sunday 8th December 2-5pm Tuesday 10th December 11am -1.30pm
From meetings and discussions held to date, the opinion being registered is that parishioners wish to object to such applications. To obtain the views of as many parishioners as possible we, in conjunction with our local Redditch Borough Councillors, will be undertaking a house-to-house poll in the coming weeks and would ask that you please respond with your views. Your identity will not be passed to the parish council.
Whilst I have had two meetings with our MP, one before and one post the election, at which he told me that he would be supporting the parish, you should also be aware that Government policy is to support such large-scale applications as this in the green belt.
In addition to this, I have been informed, by our local councillors, that at a recent meeting, at which they lobbied for support for the parish, the current controlling party of the Borough of Redditch advised them that they are minded to also support applications for Energy storage, solar farms, and in fact, new housing developments in the green belt.
I have further been informed that our Local County Councillors are lobbying the Chief Fire Officer and have proposed an SPG (special planning guidance) to be prepared, to make the Fire Department a statutory consultee on such applications. This would give power to the planning Authority to insist compliance with the Fire Officers requirements.
A glimmer of hope is the refusal of a similar smaller scheme in Rotherham, Link attached below.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gxye07gzdo.amp
Should the view of the parish be, as we currently understand, that they wish to oppose such developments, then there is a mountain to climb to achieve that aim.
Both ourselves, the action group, our local Redditch Borough Councillors, and our MP, will work to achieve the best solution we can for all the Parish.
Alan Smith
Chair Feckenham Parish Council