The fate of greenbelt land at the centre of a battery storage farm dispute could be decided by members of a local golf club.

Clydebank and District Golf Club own the land that has been earmarked for the development of a 560MW battery energy storage system (BESS) at fields on the outskirts of Faifley.

Since the plans were announced via a letter in July last year, the small group of residents against the plans has grown into a movement with locals fervently against the bid being put together by green energy developer Apatura.

Now, as proposals sit with Scottish Government ministers at Holyrood, golf club president Stephen Welsh explained Apatura will still require voting member's approval before the club can lease them the land.

Speaking exclusively to the Clydebank Post, he said: “At this point in time, it is not even past the final hurdle.

“They’ve still got a fair way to go, we’ve heard nothing with regards to dates or proposals to when they would want to sign a lease option.

“If they come and say they have successfully secured the permissions they require and they want to go ahead, we’re then in a situation where we have to go through our due process.

“The members of Clydebank and District Golf Club will decide whether to agree or disagree with leasing the land.

“Until then, nothing is happening for us.”

It is understood Apatura would be looking to lease the land for an initial three-year period with an option of an additional fourth year if required.

However, before that is considered, it will go to a vote amongst the 400 voting golf club members should it get the green light from the Scottish Government.

Moreover, the area being fought in sits in East Dunbartonshire but would impact those living in West Dunbartonshire.  

The campaign against the proposals, titled ‘Save Our Countryside – Cochno Road’, has grown to more than 600 members on Facebook. A petition has also been launched, which is closing in on 600 signatures.

Gordon Forbes from the group insists the golf club members playing such a vital role in this fight “doesn’t make sense” and fears the campaigners are pushing water uphill.

He said: “We are fighting a losing battle.

“They are just so persistent; they will keep going because they are going to make millions.

“They can afford a bit of bad press because of the money they stand to make if they get the approval.”

BESS projects are considered a key element in providing a secure energy supply on the path to net zero, by enabling storage of energy from renewables and helping the grid to cope with fluctuating supply and demand.

Their global rollout forms part of the fight against the climate crisis.  

However, fears have grown about the safety of the structures, with fires from lithium batteries difficult to extinguish alongside concerns about vapour clouds, chemicals and toxins from the site.