A PROPOSED battery storage facility in Aspatria has been given the green light after the planning application was approved this week.

Members of Cumberland Council's planning committee met at the Civic Centre in Carlisle on Wednesday (September 4) to consider the application.

Net Zero Seventeen applied to build the facility on agricultural land at West Farm in West Street, off the A596 and it could power almost 162,000 homes.

Council officers had recommended that planning permission should be granted subject to a number of conditions.

The development will include a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), together with associated cable route and infrastructure, site levelling works, site access, landscaping, and ancillary works.

Ward councillor Kevin Thurlow (Aspatria, Independent) spoke against the application and said he had concerns about the lack of concern about the proposal by the fire and rescue service.

He added: "I feel a more suitable site was offered to the north between Aspatria and Westnewton on the B5301 directly below the grid lines, close to three wind turbines, not far from the solar farm and just over the road from an existing substation."

Cllr Thurlow said the alternative site would keep everything together and the area's history was "steeped" in agriculture and mining and now it was "so-called renewable energy".

He described Monday's (September 2) "so-called" site visit by the committee as nothing more than a “drive by".

Local resident Bill Finley also spoke against the development and said that the main selling point for the development was that if there was a power cut locally it would "keep Cumberland's lights on".

But he added: "This is not the case."

A spokesman for the applicant said the development was a "much needed energy facility" which would help to increase energy security. He said the proposal had been subject to rigorous scrutiny, the sector was extremely heavily regulated and it was a much needed investment.

Councillor Bob Kelly (Millom, Labour) said he felt concerns that there might be archaeological evidence at the site had been addressed by a planning condition that, if it was the case, the applicant would have to implement a programme of work to investigate the matter.

He asked if such a discovery could halt the development and Alison Williams, a senior planning officer, said if something of significance was found then it could.

Councillor Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent) said that 40 years was a long time to subject residents to the visual impact of the facility but Ms Williams said there was a significant distance between it and the nearest properties.

Councillor Tony Markley (Solway Coast, Conservative) wondered if there was a significant reason for it being on a "rural greenfield site"?

Ms Williams said no alternative site had been suggested and it was near the grid and added: "We don't feel there is a reason for refusal."

Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) proposed that they approve the application and, when it was put to the vote, five members were in favour with one against and two abstentions and planning permission was granted.