East Devon villagers launch urgent appeal to fund fight against battery storage plans
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Residents in a small East Devon community are urgently raising funds as they prepare to challenge two major battery energy storage proposals at public inquiries, with the first hearing due to begin next week.
Campaigners around the rural hamlet of Hawkchurch are seeking financial support to oppose two large Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) planned near Blackpool Corner and Raymonds Hill. The schemes – Hazelhurst (300MWh, planning reference 24/0096/MFUL) and Newlands (80MW, Ref. 24/2650/MFUL) – are being reconsidered after developers appealed against refusals by East Devon District Council.
Hawkchurch lies close to the West Dorset and Somerset boundaries and its proximity to the Axminster Substation has made the surrounding countryside attractive to developers of energy infrastructure projects.
Battery Energy Storage Systems typically consist of rows of large metal containers housing lithium batteries placed on concrete bases.
The Hazelhurst site alone would cover an area comparable in scale to a factory, with cabling proposed to be dug along the B3165.
The Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group (HMWAG) has assembled a team of experts and a barrister to represent residents at the upcoming appeals. The group says it is particularly concerned about the potential risk of fire and the impact on local water supplies, as the proposed sites sit above an important aquifer relied upon by many farms and households for drinking water.
The community has previously challenged similar proposals. Appeals for battery storage schemes at Pound Road in 2023 and Pound Farm in 2025 were both successfully resisted, with the earlier case funded largely by one local resident and the latter supported by contributions from local people.
The countryside charity CPRE Devon is now supporting the campaign by helping to raise awareness and promote a fundraising appeal to cover the legal and expert costs of the latest cases.
Councillor Moe Dodson of Hawkchurch Parish Council said local residents had already expressed strong opposition to large-scale battery developments in the area.
“There were three BESS fires in the UK last year, a significant number considering how few sites are operational. The Parish Council carried out a survey of residents to draw up our Neighbourhood Plan. One of the survey questions was about large-scale lithium battery schemes and 98% of respondents said they didn’t want them in the local area because of the significant risks, including the threat to the important aquifer which is the sole water source to many surrounding farms and homes.”
Karen Goaman of the Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group said the community felt it had little option but to oppose the schemes.
“We are resisting these two BESS schemes with everything we’ve got; we have no alternative because of the threats they pose to the environment, residents and visitors to the area, not to mention the industrialisation of the rural landscape and the harm to wildlife and ecosystems from noise and possible fires releasing toxic emissions.”
She added that financial support from the public was urgently needed.
“We urgently need contributions – large or small donations - to share the burden of funding our defence as widely as possible. It’s easy to donate on our Go Fund Me page. Thank you to everyone who has already contributed. Please show your support for our defence by attending the Inquiry whenever you can, particularly at the opening at 10am on Tuesday, 10th March.”
Rupert Gordon (pictured) of the action group said the community faced an uphill battle against well-funded developers.
“We are really up against it to raise money to defend our East Devon and West Dorset countryside from attempts to install potentially dangerous and harmful Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). These city-based companies are happy to blight our countryside, and we continue to incur more costs borne by a group of likeminded individuals donating what they can. This is the planning system we have, and so we must take part fully, or face defeat by well-funded corporations. Please help us. If one installation succeeds, we will likely see several others in no time.”
Penny Mills of CPRE Devon said the organisation had long raised concerns about the potential dangers of battery storage systems.
“We have been campaigning against Battery Energy Storage Systems for several years because they are so dangerous and most people know little about them… BESS sites are at high risk of catching fire - the batteries can ignite without any outside interference. Fire services struggle to put out these fires, and instead have to let them burn out, which can take days. In the meantime, there is a risk of toxic plumes over a wide area. Contaminated water from any fire control activity will likely lead to streams, rivers, wells and aquifers being permanently poisoned.”
She added: “These BESS are not good news, and are part of the slow creep of industrialisation of our beautiful countryside. We need to stop them. We urge people to support the Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group however they can as they fight these two landmark Appeals.”
The first public inquiry, concerning the Hazelhurst scheme, is scheduled to begin at 10.00am on Tuesday, 10th March and is expected to run for up to a week. It will be held at Blackdown House on the Heathpark Industrial Estate in Honiton.
Residents are being encouraged to attend the opening session and support the community campaign.
( Photos supplied by if-Media 📸 )