Battery farm prompts local concerns
CONCERNS have been raised that a planned battery storage farm off Johnnie Cope’s Road could cause a health and fire hazard.
Residents of Bankpark Brae and Bankpark Crescent have expressed fears that the proposed Dolphingstone Farm battery storage development could prove problematic for those living there.
Concerns were first raised at a meeting of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council in February by Bankpark Brae residents Fraser Agnew and Falah Alrai.
Mr Agnew said: “The development will look straight onto Bankpark and raises a number of issues. It will be 200 metres away from houses and we don’t know what impact the fumes from the site will have on residents.
“As far as we know, there has also been no risk assessment carried out about potential fire hazards.
“If the site was to catch fire, what impact would that have on residents? The site is so close to the A1 too; if there was a fire, would there be an issue with traffic being stopped on the A1?”
Fellow resident Mr Alrai added: “There are large pylons planned which will carry 4,000 volts of electricity. The nearest one is 50 metres away from our homes. There’s a safety concern there too.”
A consultation was held last August for the 0.6-hectare development by RNA Energy, which will be decided upon by the Scottish Government.
The proposals are still in the early stages, and RNA Energy has said plans will evolve as local input is gathered and technical considerations are investigated further.
The project will be capable of storing 63MW of electricity to supply to the national grid in times of need, providing enough back-up energy for about 13,300 homes.
Construction is expected to take eight to 12 months.
Ward councillor Colin McGinn said: “We have had correspondence regarding this development. It will be about 30 vehicle journeys a day down Johnnie Cope’s Road, with long motors being used. I understand Traffic Scotland and NatureScot have not objected.”
Community councillors raised some concerns about the impact the increased traffic on Johnnie Cope’s Road would have on its condition.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Agnew told the Courier: “I think the big thing for us as residents is safety. We want our neighbourhood to be safe and right now we have some real worries.
“I don’t think the safety reassurances are there at the moment and it is causing some worry. There are young children living here and we want them to be safe.”
An RNA Energy spokesperson said: “Our plans are expertly designed and we take all safety concerns seriously.
“As part of the planning application, RNA Energy has prepared detailed assessments for noise impact, dust and construction traffic, as well as ensuring our batteries are designed to minimise the possibility of fire.
“No statutory consultees have expressed concerns about the scheme in these matters. These assessments are available to the public on our website and on the council’s planning system.
“As part of preparing the planning application, these assessments show a low-level of traffic and little noise and amenity impact. The design of the batteries also ensures minimal risk of fire.
“We are committed to being a good neighbour and, should anyone have any concerns, get in touch on our dedicated email address: dolphingstonefarm@havingyoursay.co.uk”