BSR Energy get views on battery storage development in Tadley

As previously reported, British Solar Renewables (BSR Energy) has launched a public consultation on its plans for a 115MW battery storage development to be built on land at Frog Lane.

It wants to understand the communities' view on the proposals and is holding a consultation until Sunday, March 24.

An in-person drop-in event was held on Monday, March 11 at Silchester Village Hall where representatives from BSR Energy were on hand to answer questions.

READ MORE: BSR Energy plans to build battery storage development in Tadley

The Gazette spoke to a few residents who attended with many saying they are angry and upset.

Yvonne McCardle, 74, who lives in Tadley was upset about the plans and said: "I don't like the plans, it is a lovely village and it will just ruin the village and the infrastructure."

She also said the roads will not cope with the extra traffic. 

Yvonne McCardle at the event (Image: Newsquest)

She continued: "I just don't think you should have to put it in a village like this because there are plenty of other open spaces. I said 'why here'? Because it is good land and it is agricultural land and it really should not be used for this. I will be dead before this happens, but I am trying to save this village. We have expensive homes here and I think it will devalue them."

Peter, from Silchester, who didn't want to give his surname, said: "I don't think it is appropriate where they are putting it [the battery storage facility] in terms of the access and the subsequent access for fire cover and the time it would take to get fire cover there, given that the technology is very dangerous and what we have seen with other events recently."

He added: "It would seem reasonable that you would need to have storage facilities but where you put them is a very complex issue. I don't think that the site they have chosen is appropriate at all."

Caron and Jon Smart, who live in Frog Lane, shared a similar view.

Caron said: "We are very concerned because it is a very quiet rural area so the impact on the wildlife and the environment is a concern, but what is more of a concern is what impact it is going to have on residents."

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She said they have been left feeling angry and concerned.

"It is such an unknown because it is such a new thing and we haven't got a reference point to compare with."

Caron and Jon Smart at the event (Image: Newsquest)

Jon said: "I don't really know why they are building on a greenfield site, there is plenty of brownfield sites around."

Jon Saltmarsh and Venessa Richards who live near the site told the Gazette they support the idea.

Jon said: "It is really good that they are consulting and they seem to know what they are doing. The reality is no one wants anything on their local field but on the other hand, it is the right place to put it. I think it is a sensible thing to do."

Jon Saltmarsh and Venessa Richards at the event (Image: Newsquest)

Venessa added: "If you want to save the planet you have to change something and if it means putting battery facilities then so it be it, that is the best place for them. Most people automatically think 'no, not here' but I have a very different view of life."

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Head of project development for BSR Energy, Sarah Hymas, said: "We like to come out to get the public's views, we are guests in another community so no one is going to know better than they are.

"We want to get their feedback so we can shape that into some of our designs and I have already heard a couple of comments already that we can incorporate."

Frog Lane where the battery storage development is proposed (Image: BSR Energy)

She added: "It is about listening to what people are saying and seeing how we can feed that into our design."

She said the national grid is constrained, adding: "What we look at across the UK is where there is capacity within the grid, that then becomes what defines where our search area is so unfortunately we are dictated to where there is capacity."