Westhoughton chiefs against plans to alter battery farm conditions

FPC Electric Land was granted permission to build a battery storage system on land near Slack Lane in 2024, but council officers put several constraints on the project.

One of these constraints prevents work during active amphibian season – March until October.

This is the condition that FPC Electric Land want to have changed, as they believe it is too restrictive.

The site on Slack Lane (Image: Google)

But Westhoughton Town Council were firmly against this proposal when they discussed it on Monday (April 13).

Westhoughton councillor and Bolton Mayor David Chadwick said: “I think that we should all object to any changes in the planning application regarding amphibians.

“Our answer should be a very firm and stern ‘no’.”

All Westhoughton councillors at the meeting assented to Cllr Chadwick’s motion.

Cllr John McHugh said: “I completely agree with Cllr Chadwick.

“This provision is there to stop developers destroying our green spaces.”

Cllr McHugh also pointed out that the Planning Inspectorate put the provision on the original plan, and therefore it would not be right to change it.

Councillor Derek Gradwell, who chaired the meeting, said Cllr McHugh’s last point was probably the most relevant one out of all the comments made.

The site plan (Image: Electric Land)

FPC Electric Land are seeking to have the amphibian provision altered due to what they believe is overly-restrictive wording.

The restriction currently states: “Works shall be timed to prevent impacts to amphibians by avoiding active amphibian season between March-October.”

But FPC – through their agent Clive Fagg Planning – are arguing that these rules are only supposed to apply to ‘vegetation clearance works’, not to work in general.

The application states this was confirmed through a discussion with Envance, the environmental consultancy on whom Bolton Council bases their planning policy.

This application will go before Bolton Council’s planning department before any decision is made on whether to alter the amphibian provision or not.

Westhoughton Town Council unanimously voted against changing the provision, but they are merely an advisory body and cannot refuse or accept planning applications.

This is the only restriction on that FPC are requesting be changed.

Westhoughton residents fighting the original plans in 2023 (Image: Martini)

All other restrictions, including other restrictions relating specifically relating to amphibians, will remain the same.

The original plans were subject to around 200 objections from local residents.

The plans were initially rejected but were then accepted on appeal.

The Bolton News has contacted Envance for comment.