𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has been accused of “hypocrisy” following his wife’s objection to a block of flats near their liberal north London home. Britons across the nation are being forced to object to energy infrastructure near their homes amid the Government’s race to make the UK a “clean energy superpower” by 2030.

Householders in Walsall, West Midlands say it is “one rule for them and another for us” as a potentially explosive energy system is set to come to the green belt near them. It comes as Mr Miliband’s High Court judge wife objected to the construction of a new block of flats near to their family home, claiming it is “too tall, too bulky and too dense”.

Dame Justine said she had “no objection to the principle of redevelopment into flats particularly in the context of the need of more housing”, she stated the “proposed design appears to be too tall, too bulky and too dense for its plot”.

Robert Withers, of the Beacon Action Group, has raised concerns about the development approval of a Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Great Barr Village at Chapel Lane.

These systems use batteries to store electrical energy, typically from renewable sources, for later use when demand is high or when renewable energy generation is low

Mr Withers said: “It just seems to us that, you know, there could be one rule for those and one rule for us.

“It’s absolutely hypocrisy. We, as a community, have not only got to put up with the noise from fans that are going to sit on top of these 44 porter cabins full of lithium-ion batteries – which the fans are on 24/7 trying to keep the batteries cool – but we’ve got the noise and the fans and the fear for 40 years of an explosion.”

Controversial plans for the battery storage facility was initially refused by councillors then later given the green light after an appeal.

Walsall Council cited fire safety risks, loss of green belt land, noise and industrial appearance as reasons to refuse the proposal in Great Barr.

But a government planning inspector has ruled it can be built on land off Chapel Lane, a site within the historic core of the Great Barr Conservation Area.

Tory MP Wendy Morton said: “I was appalled that the un-elected Planning Inspectorate overturned the democratically elected decision taken by Walsall Borough Council to allow the proposed BESS at Chapel Lane in my Aldridge-Brownhills constituency.

“There remain real risks about this type of development and whilst there were many safety issues pointed to not least of all its proximity to Barr Beacon School, there was also the wider dangers posed to our precious Green Belt and food security by allowing arable land to be developed in this manner.

“That is why this week I proposed an amendment to the Government’s proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill to prevent this type of development being allowed on arable land in the future. Food security and sustainability is a major issue for our country and has only been heightened by conflict, and global insecurity. It is time for all political parties to take this issue more seriously.

“Once arable land and our precious Green Belt are developed, they are lost to all future generations and that is why my wider campaign along with groups such as the Beacon Action Group against inappropriate development will continue.”

BESS is growing across the UK, with the government hoping to have 11GW of BESS operational by 2030 across the UK

Currently, more than 5GW of BESS capacity is operational in the UK.

Tory MP Sarah Bool MP said: “The Government is sleepwalking into a crisis when it comes to BESS.

“The number of these sites entering the planning system has exploded beyond what is required and it is being done without a robust framework to regulate BESS at all stages of operation.

“The Government needs to halt the rollout of these sites, including at the Green Hill development near Grendon, until this statutory framework has been developed.”

A spokesman for the Planning Inspectorate said: “As the appeal is part of a legal challenge we are unable to comment further on the details of the case.

“A key principle of the planning system is that each planning application and any subsequent planning appeal will be treated on its own individual circumstances and merits, in the light of the current local plan for the area, the National Planning Policy Framework and any other specific material considerations.”

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “Every wind turbine we put up, every solar panel we install, and every battery storage facility we construct helps protect families from future energy shocks.