Harmony Energy and Banks Renewables have each submitted separate planning applications to set up facilities on two plots of land near Allerton Bywater.

If approved, the farms, which take in power from renewable energy sources and then pump it out when demand is high, would each be located on separate sites off Barnsdale Road.

But one local woman said there was “grave concern” about the plans, specifically with regard to the perceived risk of fire linked to such sites.

One of the proposed battery farm sites will be located around here, off Barnsdale Road

There are fears too about the impact on wildlife, given their proximity to Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve.

Harmony insisted the technology it uses is “extremely safe” and that more battery farms are needed to help the UK slash its carbon emissions.

But Ali Davies, from nearby Ledston, said local people were “vehement” in their opposition to both schemes.

She’s set up a ‘Save Our Villages – Allerton Bywater, Kippax and Ledston’ Facebook group in response to the plans, which has been joined by nearly 400 people.

Ms Davies said: “We completely understand the importance of renewable energy and the need for green sources of energy.

“However, what we’re objecting to is the significant and devastating impact on our communities these will have if they’re approved.

“Building such a facility in this area will have an undoubted health impact on the wildlife, the ecosystem and the environmental balance in the area.

“Everyone really cares about this community because it’s a lovely part of the world and we don’t want to see it industrialised. The strength of the backlash has been phenomenal.”

Ms Davies cited concerns raised by the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, who have commented on Banks’ application, although not on Harmony Energy’s as yet.

In a repeat of their remarks on a similar proposed scheme near Rothwell earlier this year, they said: “The risks of vapour cloud, thermal runaway and explosion are unfortunately very real and are becoming more common as we see an increase in the number of BESS (battery energy storage system) installations rise”.

The Fire Service said the lithium in the batteries would extinguishing a blaze at the site difficult, saying they would need “significant amounts of water for a protracted period”.

They added: “If we were to let it burn there would be a significant impact on the highly populated suburbs, which would all be significantly impacted from the vapour/smoke plume.”

In a statement, Harmony Energy said: “We use Lithium-Ion Iron Phosphate (LFP) systems which are extremely safe and have been rigorously fire tested using international safety standards.”

Banks did not respond to a request for comment. However, announcing their plans for the site in June, they insisted the benefits of battery storage sites “are proven and accepted”, and that the scheme had had a “great deal of local support”.

Yorkshire villagers to fight against plans for battery store farms