Representation by Michael Taylor
- Date submitted
- 3 February 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
As a resident of Red Lodge I have no qualms about solar farms, but do have grave concerns about the proposed battery storage farm in close proximity to where I live. From what I have discovered, there is a danger that if there is a fire (caused by electrical faults, lightning, or even arson) they are very difficult to extinguish and spread quickly. But the main concern is the toxic fumes that would be released into the air as a result. These I believe include hydrochloric acid which I know can be life threatening if inhaled. We have been told there would be mandatory evacuation of homes as a result. depending on which way the wind carried the fumes. How quickly that could be implemented also adds to the inherent danger. There are over 11,000 residents of Red Lodge to the west, and perhaps twice that many in both Newmarket (east) and Mildenhall (north). Logistically, I think evacuation on this sort of scale would be almost impossible and lives would be therefore be in jeopardy. Another serious concern is the effect it is already having on house prices in the area, as these concerns raised are already widely known in the area. Unless you can categorically assure me that battery farms pose no potential or realistic danger as i've highlighted above, I am against the proposed battery farm at this location. I have several concerns but the main one is regarding the BESS and the associated risks that come with it. The lack of detailed information by representatives from Sunnica to my village on March 9th left everyone there even more concerned over the risks involved in the event of a fire and the toxic fumes that would follow. I live less than a quarter of a mile away from the proposed site and feel in the event of a fire the ability to evacuate everyone in our village (a population of 12,000+) is in itself unrealistic, even more so in neighbouring Mildenhall and Newmarket and the surrounding villages. The representatives simply failed to give assurances and could declined to answer certain questions altogether.