Plans for a major battery storage facility on farmland in the Fens have been withdrawn after fears a fire on the site would mean the closure of the A47.

Mercia Power Response applied for planning permission to use land off Burrettgate Road at Walsoken for energy storage.

Fire chiefs have expressed concerns over "emerging risks" from the battery sites.

Wisbech Standard: The entrance to the proposed battery storage site at WalsokenThe entrance to the proposed battery storage site at Walsoken (Image: Google)Experts say the risk of fires is low, but when the batteries fail or overheat, they release flammable toxic gases that can spark fast-spreading fires that are extremely difficult to extinguish.

A fire officer raised safety concerns over the Walsoken proposals.

Senior fire safety inspector Mike Beard said in an e-mail to the developers: "The position of the site in proximity to a major trunk road (A47) is a concern, because even with every new piece of technology available in our system we cannot guarantee there will not a be a fire on site which could close the A47 for an extended period potentially devastating the Norfolk economy."

Wisbech Standard: The Walsoken site is close to the A47The Walsoken site is close to the A47 (Image: Google)He added lack of a secondary access would also make it difficult to fight any fire on the site.

READ MORE: Go-ahead for massive battery plant at Swainsthorpe

The planning application was withdrawn after Mr Beard's e-mail.

Wisbech Standard: The application was withdrawn after fears were expressed over the consequences of a fire on the siteThe application was withdrawn after fears were expressed over the consequences of a fire on the site (Image: Newsquest)Mercia Power earlier said that the proposals would provide "infrastructure and stability services for the National Grid by storing and releasing electrical energy for times of high demand or network stress".

It added it would also help the drive towards renewable energy.

Earlier this year Ceri Sumner, Norfolk's chief fire officer, said the issue of battery fires was "keeping her awake at night".

Wisbech Standard: Ceri Sumner, director of Norfolk Fire ServiceCeri Sumner, director of Norfolk Fire Service (Image: Norfolk County Council)"There is still data and information coming out, both in terms of the risks associated with these types of batteries and the best approaches for dealing with them, should something go wrong," she said.

"They don't go wrong very often, but when they do they can be quite problematic."