Re; your article about the TVBC planning committee meeting into Chilworth electrical battery storage facility (Advertiser, April 5). 

The crowd was angry and left stunned by the committee which narrowly permitted the scheme.

The committee top table was barely palpable from the very start and showing total misunderstanding of the application.

They kept referring to 'National Policy' and were very biased in their consideration and showed a total lack of understanding about actual battery storage technology. 

The actual applicant Boom Energy was not much better with political references to national requirements for renewable energy strategy etc but without showing any real evidence.

Comments from the development manager stating the battery facility would “Just fit into the corner of the field” in Misslebrook. This gave a very false impression to the committee members when the actual site is two times the size of a standard football playing field like Saint Mary’s. Stating they were voting for their grandchildren and for climate change.

READ MORE: Chilworth electrical battery storage facility at angry meeting

All used to influence the committee to accept the application without any consideration to potential risks to the community.

The case officer proposal to accept the application was considered “inherently essential with a clear national need for low carbon energy” and this was the justification for departure from planning policy Com2 of the local plan.

Unfortunately, all the above were either false statements or misleading.

The Chilworth battery storage facility proposal is not a renewable energy project and produces nothing. It actually wastes 15 per cent electricity charging the battery and during distribution which is not zero carbon friendly.

Unlike geothermal, hydroelectric, wind turbine and solar panels systems that all generate energy from nature resources and have a positive contribution.

We have a problem in under investment in the national grid in distribution and generation. Let’s not hide the real problem and inflict this monstrosity on Chilworth for no good reason.

Malcolm Henley,
Chilworth Parish Council,
BPC Energy Romsey

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