CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the building of a battery farm on green belt near Wall Heath turned out to another public meeting to air their concerns as plans for a similar development proposed for land nearby emerged.

Wall Heath and Kingswinford Green Belt Group have been working with members of Swindon Parish Council to oppose a proposals to build and operate a battery energy storage system on land next to Hinksford Substation, Hinksford Lane, Hinksford.

The application, made by Bristol-based energy product developer Balance Power Projects Ltd, says the development would be temporary and time-limited to 40 years.

Another similar plan, by a different company looking to develop a nearby site, has also emerged.

Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) is proposing to build a facility on land in Swindon, east of Wombourne Road and next to Himley Plantation.

Two public meetings have now been held, the first on April 22 at The Hinksford Arms pub at Hinksford and the second on Friday April 26 at Swindon Community Centre, to highlight concerns and allow residents to find out more.

The meetings were attended by nearly 200 worried local residents in total.

Fears about the impact the developments would have on the green belt and wildlife were raised as well as concerns about the potential risk of fire.

Balance Power Projects Ltd has said the purpose of its development is to “import/store electricity at periods of grid low demand and export back to the National Grid when required”.

Meanwhile, Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) has said its proposal aims to help South Staffordshire Council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with local and national targets in response to the climate emergency. The company says the proposed Swindon battery facility would also help to balance the scales of electricity supply and demand, ensuring a more stable and efficient energy future; and that it would enhance local ecosystems, creating substantial improvements in the natural habitats and populations of plants and animals in the area.

People can find out more about the Swindon plan on a dedicated website that has been set up at wombournebess.com or they can contact the project team directly at feedback@alpacacommunications.com with any questions.

Community campaigner Shaz Saleem said the main concerns raised about the plans are that they would “represent an inappropriate development of green belt land, would generate a large volume of noise and the road network is too poor to sustain the additional traffic the sites would generate”.

He urged members of the public to have their say on the proposals.

The Hinksford plan (application number 24/00190/FULM) is expected to be determined by May 27. People can still comment on the scheme although the official consultation period has passed.

An official planning application for the Swindon plan is expected to be submitted this month with a decision expected by the end of the year and the facility would be operational by the end of 2026. An initial application (24/00084/EIASCR) to determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment would need to be carried out for a future development proposal for a battery energy storage system facility has been approved.

Call South Staffordshire Council on 01902 696000 to submit a late comment or email planning@sstaffs.gov.uk or write to the planning department at South Staffordshire Council, Council Offices, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, WV8 1PX.

Campaigners will be running a pop-up stall at Wall Heath Shopping Centre from 9am to midday on Saturday May 4 to talk to residents about the schemes and advise them if they wish to raise an objection.