The Esclusham Community Group was formed to challenge proposals to have the largest Lithium Battery Plant in the world – all 500 units of it – in Esclusham Ward (specifically Rhostyllen, up to the Ponciau Ward border and not in Bersham, as a letter many residents have received declared).
Steve Witherden was invited to attend a meeting of the Esclusham Community Group (ECG) at 15:30 on Tuesday 16 April, ahead of the meeting of the full group that evening.
Steve said of his meeting:
“Should this proposal be going ahead when the site is greenbelt Grade II Agricultural Land?
“I am a great supporter of green technology – my father was a founder of the Centre for Alternative Technology – but the appearance is that they could not have picked a worse site. This is not green technology like solar panels or a windfarm.
“We have all read about the fire hazards associated with Lithium Battery Plants, details about serious fires at plants in Liverpool Carnegie and Kilwinning can be found here and here respectively. These fires cannot be put out as easily as others as they burn for longer and the heat, water and fire together can produce a corrosive by-product.
“To seek to site the plant in a field around 100 yards from Rhostyllen Esso petrol station and around the same distance to the River Clywedog seems downright reckless and irresponsible. Presumably, the proximity to the Legacy Tower was deemed far more valuable than these other important considerations, which appear to have appallingly been given a back seat.
“I would like to pay tribute to the ECG. Their excellent organisation and tireless labours have helped secure 173 paper objections plus many more online objections. They have already helped to obtain one major concession, with 236 units being proposed instead of the originally planned 500, but the proposal is still viewed as wholly unacceptable by the ECG and the campaign shall go on.
“I shall do everything in my power to support them in any way I can.”
You can read more about the Esclusham Community Group and the planned site here.