'Proposed Larbert site for AI data centre is not appropriate', MSP Jenny Young
On June 26 the Scottish Parliament officially entered a period known as summer recess. During this time, the regular business of the parliament – debates, statements, committee business – pauses and MSPs can spend more time in their constituency or region.
As a new MSP, I’m treating summer recess as an opportunity to get out and about across the Central Scotland and Lothians West region to meet constituents, businesses, charities and other organisations in the region to hear about the important work going on and see how I can help.
Last week, for example, I visited SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) West Lothian to learn more about their supported accommodation service and their outreach programme, which are helping hundreds of people with mental health challenges in the local community.
Summer recess also gives me more time to visit many of our brilliant colleges and universities, in my role as Scottish Labour’s Shadow Minister for Tertiary Education.
So far, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Forth Valley College’s Falkirk campus, the SRUC Oatridge campus and West Lothian College.
While the college sector is facing many challenges just now, not least a 20 per cent cut to funding from the Scottish Government over the last five years, those institutions are doing innovative work to train people of all ages in the skills and jobs that our local economy needs.
If you are interested to know what I’m doing on a daily basis throughout the summer then keep an eye on my social media channels.
You can also meet me in person at a constituency surgery. Over the summer, I will be hosting surgeries in supermarkets across the region including in Falkirk, Linlithgow and Livingston. Look out for details on my social media channels or contact me on [email protected] or 0131 348 6267 for more information.
While the Scottish Parliament may have paused for the summer, the big issues that people in this area care about have not.
Many constituents have contacted me regarding the proposal for an AI data centre to be built at Glenbervie Business Park in Larbert. I know lots of people are worried about the potential impacts of this proposed development on the local area.
We have to recognise that as the use of AI and cloud technologies continues to grow, facilities like data centres will need to be built. The question is where they should be built.
In this case, I do not believe the proposed site is an appropriate place for such a large development, with the potential for significant impacts on the local environment for those who live nearby.
I recently met with Apatura, the data company that has submitted the application for this AI data centre, and put to them the questions and issues that many constituents have highlighted to me regarding their plans. I am also calling on the Scottish Government to show leadership on this issue at a national level, particularly by defining what is meant by a “green data centre”, devising a national plan for data centre development and carrying out a long-term assessment of Scotland’s future data capacity needs, to inform the development of grid capacity.
Data centres are an issue of national importance, and the Scottish Government needs to step up and recognise that.
Rest assured that I will continue to work on this issue on behalf of constituents.
Whatever you are doing this summer, can I wish you and your family a safe and restful time, and here’s hoping the good weather lasts!