ANOTHER opportunity has arisen for villagers in Old Hutton to raise objections to the controversial construction of a gas-fired power station and industrial battery storage on local farmland.

Residents who turned out in force at the village hall for an update on the plans learnt that the London-based developers, Statera Energy, were making changes to the application in response to Cumbria County Council concerns over safety and access for emergency services.

The action group opposing the application alerted residents to the fact that the planned changes will mean another opportunity to submit objections ahead of the scheme going before South Lakeland District Council's planning committee on September 28.

There has already been around 1,000 objections to the plans which include more than 40 industrial storage containers to house the lithium ion battery storage, and around 240 heavy vehicle movements a day during construction.

Residents are concerned about the effect of emissions on children at the nearby Old Hutton CE Primary School downwind from the site. Invasive noise from the air conditioning fans and turbines – particularly at night – is another reason for objections.

Campaigner David Stephenson, said: “Proposing a gas-fired power station and industrial battery storage in a rural location between two national parks is insane. It does not fit with the local plan or SLDC's support for green energy projects, there is no infrastructure to support the development and it will deliver absolutely no benefits to the local area.”