Silverlake have posted their Fire Safety report - here is an example of our feedback/objection

Public Briefing – Silverlake Expansion & Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Risks

Why this matters
Silverlake plans to expand its End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) operations with a new building for electric vehicle (EV) battery removal and upgraded battery storage units. While the company has included safety measures (coolant baths, extinguishing systems, and a large water tank), there remain serious risks that affect the wider community.

Key Concerns

• Lithium-ion battery fires are different from normal fires
• They can burn at extreme temperatures.
• They often re-ignite even after being cooled.
• Fire services themselves have said there is no guarantee they can extinguish such fires.
• Toxic smoke and gases
• Fires release hazardous substances such as hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide, and fine particles.
• These can spread off-site, putting nearby residents, schools, and workplaces at risk.
• Growing scale of operations
• Silverlake’s own figures show rapid increases in EV numbers: from 56 in 2021 to 850 expected in 2025, with much larger growth predicted in the years ahead.
• More batteries = higher chance of an incident.
• Water measures are not enough
• A 150,000-litre tank and water submersion pools may cool fires but cannot prevent toxic gases from spreading.
• Firefighting water can become contaminated and leak into soil or groundwater.
• Impact on the community
• If a major fire occurs, evacuations may be needed.
• Residents could face exposure to toxic smoke.
• There may be long-term environmental impacts, such as soil and water contamination.
• What is needed
• Before expansion is approved, an independent Public Health Risk Assessment (PHRA) should be carried out. This assessment must:
• Model the spread of smoke and toxic gases in worst-case scenarios.
• Evaluate health risks for people living and working nearby.
• Assess environmental risks from contaminated firefighting water.
• Recommend clear evacuation and emergency procedures.
• Provide a plan for long-term monitoring and community safety.

Why this protects everyone

Silverlake’s safety measures focus on managing fires on site. But the health risks go far beyond the site boundary (up to 8 or more miles dependent on wind, if there were a fire) A PHRA ensures the local council, fire service, and community have the full picture — and that public health is properly protected as EV operations expand.

👉 In short: No matter how strong the engineering controls are, lithium-ion battery fires remain unpredictable, toxic, and sometimes impossible to put out. The community deserves a full health risk assessment before expansion goes ahead.