HELENSBURGH Community Council is to add its voice to those campaigning against controversial plans for a battery energy storage facility near the town.

The group says it plans to object to the YLEM Energy proposal for Ardencaple farm because the site for the planned development, near the Duchess Wood, is on the green belt.

The community council's members previously said they were broadly in favour of the proposed battery energy storage site (BESS), but has been considering a formal response for months.

Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) is a statutory consultee so had to be asked for its views.

Neighbouring Rhu and Shandon Community Council lodged a formal objection to YLEM Energy's plans in April, citing inadequate consultation, the site's proximity to Duchess Wood, the potential for noise and light pollution from the site, and the development sitebeing located too far away from the nearest electrical substation.

A BESS helps store energy from offshore wind farms until it is needed by the National Grid.

But the plan has run into opposition from Helensburgh and beyond.

YLEM Energy's preferred site for the new facility is located next to the West Highland rail line as it passes to the north of the town.

(Image: YLEM Energy)

At HCC's meeting on July 25, the group approved sending a formal objection to Argyll and Bute Council, setting out its concern about the impact on the green belt generally and on the Duchess Wood in particular.

Echoing comments originally made in March, community councillor Nigel Millar said: "We wish to object on the grounds the developer has failed to demonstrate it's essential within the green belt.

"Why has it got to be there, as opposed to anywhere else?

"We are not opposed in principle, but why there? It's one of the most heavily objected to planning applications in the last 20-30 years.

"On this occasion, we felt we should focus on the greenbelt issue before anything else."

Mr Millar said the green belt gave a "sense of place" to Helensburgh and Rhu.

But he said green belt designation is not a blanket ban on development, and added that the BESS was the "right development but in the wrong place".

Mr Millar also expressed concern that if YLEM's plans were approved, it would set a precedent ahead of other applications, particularly to deal with the housing emergency in Argyll and Bute and nationally.

HCC agreed to submit a formal objection to Argyll and Bute Council.

There have been dozens of public submissions on the plans, with Jackie Baillie MSP voicing concerns an environmental impact assessment was deemed unnecessary.

Network Rail said a number of assurances needed to be provided, particularly on safety plans for the site.

Council officials ruled in May that an environmental impact assessment would not be required for the proposals, going against the view of local conservation charity the Friends of Duchess Wood.

The local authority had originally set a 'determination deadline' for the application of June 30, but with 59 objections, and one expression of support, lodged so far, it's thought likely that the proposal will go before the council's planning, protective services and licensing committee for a decision, rather than being delegated to officials.