Rampton residents fighting to protect village from 'green energy' projects

Residents say they are fighting to protect their village as they feel the land around them is being swallowed up for various energy projects. Located on the outskirts of Nottinghamshire near Retford is the peaceful village of Rampton, which is home to under 600 people according to the 2021 census.

Villagers love their homes in the picturesque countryside but fear their village and others like them are being targeted for energy developments. Lynette Dear, 71, said: "We are just one village that is fighting all these sorts of things from Lincolnshire all the way down to Essex."

Six weeks ago the village had a meeting about a new line of pylons being installed at the back of the village, despite it already having two rows, and now residents are facing the possibility of a new energy storage system being built. Currently in the consultation stage of its Trent Battery Energy Storage System, Tribus Energy hopes to build the site on the outskirts of Rampton on land south of Torksey Ferry Road and east of Chequers Lane.

This battery storage system will allow for electricity to be stored and then released at times when it is most needed. Tribus Energy will be submitting a planning application to Bassetlaw District Council during Autumn 2024.

However, residents are concerned that the site would lead to a loss of farmland, noise and light pollution and a fire risk. An open Woodbeck and Rampton Parish Council meeting is due to take place on Monday, November 11, at 6pm to discuss these concerns.

Lynette argues that the redundant Cottam Power Station would be a more "suitable" and "sensible" location due to its traffic access. She said: "We have been doing lots of research. It's not that we are against green energy systems, but we feel it's the wrong location.

"Rural villages are increasingly being the target of green infrastructure – cables, pylons and now green energy storage systems. Villagers are in strong agreement that this proposal on Torksey Ferry Road, Rampton, is inappropriate and is another ‘brick’ in our rural countryside, where we have chosen to live and retire."

Rampton resident and retired power station operations engineer Michael Young has also expressed concerns. He feels the site is "quite large" and "too close to the village". He added: "It would make sense to move it across Torksey Ferry Road into the vast de-commissioned power station site."

The 82-year-old explained that villagers have a number of concerns about the site, including the noise, impact on the view and also the fire risk.

A spokesperson for the Trent BESS project said: "Battery storage has a vital role in meeting the country's urgent need for clean power.

"Our proposal will use grid capacity freed up by the closure of Cottam Power Station to help balance the grid, ensuring electricity when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining and reducing the need for carbon-intensive peaking power plants. While we considered the former power station site for this project, we understand the land is being promoted for alternative uses in the emerging Bassetlaw Local Plan and is not available to us.

"We're committed to minimising any local impacts through careful design, including noise mitigation, flood protection measures and visual screening. We’re very grateful to everyone who joined our event last week and encourage all to share their views with us by Friday 8th November.”