where Guy Fawkes once lived fear proposed Net Zero lithium-ion battery sites near a primary school could explode, leaving "children in body bags". Scotton, in North Yorkshire, is a rural community of around 700 people with a village hall, campsite and pub, suitably named the Guy Fawkes Arms after a famous former resident.

have sparked fireworks amongst locals as two companies have put forward plans for a 266-acre Percy Beck solar farm and connected lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS). Scores of different companies are applying for planning permission for BESS sites up and down the UK because of Ed Miliband's Net Zero crusade, with one industry insider telling the Daily Express "banks and investment funds are forcing money down the throats" of any firm trying to build one.

The lithium-ion batteries in BESS store electricity from renewable power stations like solar and wind farms, and then sell it back onto the grid at times when supply is low, potentially at a very lucrative rate.

But concerns have been raised over the safety of lithium-ion battery facilities, with at least four confirmed major fires in the UK so far, and around 95 globally. As well as producing extreme heat of 900C, if the battery goes into a state known as "thermal runaway", it can explode producing deadly clouds of hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid.

In September 2020 in Liverpool a fire at a BESS site took "59 hours" to extinguish, and in February firefighters tackled two blazes, one for 24 hours in Tilbury, Essex, and another at a BESS in Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire. Last month crews battled a fire at BESS at a solar farm in with residents warned to keep their doors and windows closed because of fumes.

Crucially lithium-ion incidents don't behave like a normal fire, in that they don't need oxygen to go into thermal runaway and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) advise fire services to allow a "controlled burn" of any incident.

In a briefing report published on April 24, the Government admits "there are no laws that govern the safety of BESSs specifically", but still hundreds of BESS sites are being proposed, and last year more received planning permission than ever before. The ones in Scotton will be close to a primary school, nursery, junior football club and cricket pitch.

Local Pete Roberts is terrified what will happen if the new BESS near the village goes wrong. "This is like putting a power station within metres of 90 kids in a primary school, it's putting a power station where children in day nursery would be, not only that, it's near a cricket pitch where Knaresborough Forester juniors play and Percy Fields where children play football.

"Potentially we are putting at risk hundreds of children, if there is an accident at this site, we will know by the number of kids in body bags."

Lithium-ion expert Paul Christensen, Professor of Pure and Applied Electrochemistry at Newcastle University, said any BESS site should be at least 1km from places such as a primary school. He added that a 'wind rose test' should be carried out to assess the direction of the prevailing wind should any gas cloud incident occur.

Professor Christensen said: "There is a complete lack of understanding of the risks and hazards of lithium-ion batteries amongst planners.

"The problem in this country is very much the case, there are no standards, codes or regulations. There are a few watered-down guidelines, which are next to useless.

"Recently it was advised that they (fire services) should be consulted at the design stage, but there's no statutory requirement on them to be so consulted. What you've got is a bit of a wild west."

Local resident Richard Tallis, who has lived in the village for 27 years, said: "Ed Miliband is on a Net Zero crusade and there is all this public money in a pot that these companies are going for.

"The principal aspect is concerns over the safety of children and residents, and also the protection of some of the best and most versatile land to produce food for future generations."

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said she believed the villager's objections would be ignored by the local planners and the Government. She said: "I think it's all a done deal, it's power, money and Miliband, and if we stop the plans now, they could just keep appealing."

The Daily Express have contacted North Yorkshire Council and Scotton Lingerfield Primary School and the local nursery for comment. The council said it could not comment on existing planning applications.

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for the area, said: "A number of constituents have contacted me about the proposed development, and I am currently in the process of writing to people in the local area about this issue.

"While I support efforts to boost our energy security through renewables, it's vital that local communities see clear and lasting benefits, with all safety and environmental concerns addressed.

"If the scheme is to go ahead, the developer must go further in delivering meaningful community investment and ensuring residents feel the project works for them - not just around them."

The two sites, a solar farm and BESS from the company BOOM Power, and another 200-megawatt BESS facility from a firm called Harmony, both sit less than 200 yards from the school.

Worried parent Lee Gardner, 53, lives with his wife and their two daughters in the village. He said: "My daughter Evie is in Year 6 at the school, she's 10 years old and she's worried about the batteries, and she's really concerned about the whole thing, she doesn't want any of it. Evie can't understand why they want to do this to her village.

"All around them will be solar panels and if anything goes wrong they are going to be in the line of sight, it's a massive worry for everybody concerned. It's preposterous to have this here.

"Why can't they do it by a motorway or have panels on the roofs of new houses?

"We had an open evening in the village about the plans and the people who turned up to speak to us were not even from the energy company, they were just standing there giving leaflets out and couldn't answer any questions. They were just a PR firm, but you couldn't get any straight answers out of them, because they didn't know."

Mr Gardner, 54, who is semi-retired, used to run a firm carrying out security for sites like solar farms. He added: "My company had done security for solar farms, there are comings and goings all night, Scotton can't cope with that.

"They bring a lot of crime because of the amount of cabling that is used, we used to use dogs because we had to track people who had broken in. There's a lot of tampering and sabotage, that's why they have to have big fencing. CCTV and alarm systems, because they bring a lot of crime with them.

"What if they steal some cable that is important for the lithium-ion batteries?"

Professor Christensen explained if something goes wrong with a BESS and it goes into thermal runaway, that's when you "put your head between your legs and kiss your arse goodbye".

He added: "On these large lithium batteries, which are designed to keep everything out, including water, if you put the fire out you switch the hazard to explosion. The cells do not need fire to get to thermal runaway, the cells can get to 900C.

"They key point is the standard operating procedure for BESS, as it is for electric vehicles, is the controlled burn, basically you stand back and watch it burn. The problem is BESS fires do not follow the fire triangle we were all taught at school, fire, oxygen, fuel.

"If you put the fire out the cells will get to 900C and that will trigger thermal runaway in an adjacent cell, and that will boil off the vapour cloud, and so on and so forth.

"And that's what happened in a huge explosion in America, it was in a place called Surprise, in Arizona. There was a vapour cloud, the fire department opened the door of the BESS and there was a huge explosion, and this is what they are worried about."

Jack Spurway, Head of Planning at BOOM Power said: "If approved, Percy Beck Solar Farm would generate clean, renewable energy helping with net zero targets and our national energy security. By storing clean electricity for when it's needed most, the project will further strengthen energy security and help reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

"We're carefully designing a solar farm that not only blends into the local landscape but also brings a meaningful boost for local wildlife.

"We're committed to putting the community at the heart of this project. Before we submit a planning application, we want to hear from local residents about the features they'd like to see included in the design - as well as their views on our proposal to provide financial support for local initiatives. I would encourage those people who are interested in our project to come along to our upcoming consultation event.

"As with all our projects, the energy storage system will be located and designed with great care, following rigorous standards to ensure it integrates safely and seamlessly into the surrounding area."

A spokesperson for Harmony Energy said: "Sites like this, located next to an existing substation, are essential for enhancing energy security, reducing CO emissions, lowering energy bills and supporting job creation and economic growth while reducing the nation's reliance on foreign imports.

"Battery energy storage systems are well accepted and widely adopted, and known for their high health and safety performance and rigorous international fire testing. Projects of this nature undergo advanced technical design and a thorough planning process to ensure they can be viable.

"There is no cost to the taxpayer and the project will contribute to local investment, support the grid and play a vital role in helping the UK transition to a cleaner and more secure energy future that protects both people and the planet for generations to come."

Ed Miliband's Department for Energy Security & Net Zero refused to comment on the plans and said "this application would be for the local council to decide on, not the Energy Secretary".

A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "We are helping builders get shovels in the ground quicker to build the vital infrastructure we need, so we can improve transport links and make Britain a clean energy superpower to protect bill payers.

"Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill will deliver a win-win for the economy and nature - fixing the failing system we inherited which has blocked economic growth while doing nothing for nature's recovery."