Concerns over plans for a new Battery Energy Storage site (BESS) at Cockenzie And fears over the impact of a fire on the site which would be less than 100 metres from people’s homes saw some councillors back objectors amid fears not enough safeguards were in place Objector Brian Hall told a meeting of East Lothian Council’s planning committee the type of batteries likely to be used at the site could in a disaster lead to hydrofluoric acid being released into the community He said: “If the worst happens it can release acid that dissolves the flesh.” He pointed to incidents in California where fires had broken out in BESS projects Community Councils raised objections over safety concerns However planning convenor Norman Hampshire said BESS was part of a ‘fundamental move towards sustainable energy’ and dismissed concerns about fires or its proximity to housing He said: “Concerns that have been raised regarding some people thinking these things have a fire risk If you believe they have a fire risk it doesn’t matter where you put them in East Lothian the impact would be on the whole of East Lothian because the wind blows in all directions so every community would be at risk “I fundamentally don’t believe there is a massive fire risk with these facilities I believe the technology will continue to develop and move forward “I am comfortable we have a technology which is being used around the world.” The proposals for the storage facility south west of the former Cockenzie Power Station site and partly on farmland However applications returned to the planning committee for comment after the overall site was split into separate parcels for ‘administration purposes’ which is considered a national development will be given by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) with East Lothian Council only able to comment or lodge objections Councillor Hampshire warned fellow members of the committee objecting would lead to a public inquiry which they would lose after initially approving the overall site and would cost money However some councillors were concerned about a lack of fire safety input into the development as well as criticising the applicants for failing to involve the local community in any emergency or contingency planning appearing as agent for the applicant Cockenzie Storage Ltd told the committee emergency plans were in place in the event of something going wrong at the facility and it would be monitored remotely for signs of problems The committee agreed by seven votes to four to back officers recommendations not to object to the plans but agreed to insist the ECU ensure the ‘proposed BESS would not result in an unacceptable fire safety risk or that the matter of fire risk is competently dealt with under other legislation’ They further agreed to demand their planning officers are involved in future talks with the unit applicants and the community to ensure their voices are heard Subscribe to the Midlothian View newsletter The latest planning application from Seagreen Wind Energy shows the substation built on top of a former gasholder site stretching across paths which the firm admits may have to be diverted Seagreen sparked local concern when its initial consultation appeared to put the entire Greenhills – a popular recreational spot between the communities of Cockenzie and Prestonpans – in its proposed site the plans now lodged with the council show the substation across the road from the former power station’s main footprint on an old gasworks area now being used for a temporary car wash business Acknowledging concerns raised by community councils over the loss of green space Seagreen’s application says: “As far as possible the proposed substation (as well as other elements of the proposed development) will be sited to avoid any areas of habitat value we confirm that any potential loss of woodland or scrub would be compensated for by post-construction landscape planting.” And they added that any loss of existing footpaths was still to be discussed to agree how to mitigate it adding: “This will likely involve a diversion to the existing footpath we will seek to minimise the length of this diversion as far as possible.” Seagreen currently has a  £3bn offshore wind farm development under construction after it was granted exclusive rights for the Firth of Forth Zone of the UK’s Round 3 offshore wind farm development programme Phase One within the zone includes the development of two offshore windfarms –  Seagreen Alpha and Seagreen Bravo –  located more than 27km from the Angus coastline Work is already under way to bring the energy online at a number of sites with Cockenzie the latest one to be put forward The former Cockenzie Power Station site was bought by East Lothian Council from ScottishPower after the station’s iconic chimneys were demolished It has been marketed by the local authority for projects with a visionary masterplan setting out a wide range of employment energy and recreational uses for the large 37-hectare site and surrounding area a substation which will bring energy onshore for Inch Cape Offshore Ltd is the only proposal given planning permission for the site Seagreen’s proposals cover an area of land outwith the power station footprint itself where underground cables would be brought on land under the main road and into the National Grid inshore The proposal includes an onshore substation underground electricity cables and “temporary and permanent infrastructure to export electricity” Marie is The Local Democracy Reporter covering East Lothian Council The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations The Edinburgh Reporter brings you news all about Edinburgh Roads were closed in East Lothian as the super grid transformer was transported from Port of Leith to the onshore substation at Cockenzie The high voltage device is designed to boost substation capacity and resilience helping in the safe distribution of electricity to homes and businesses A second power transformer is expected to be installed ShareSaveDemolition of homes damaged in gas explosion beginsHomes seriously damaged in a gas explosion in Edinburgh are being demolished more than a year later. 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