Public meeting against Larbert data centre hears of potential impact on community

Thursday’s meeting in the Dobbie Hall was organised by retired technology worker Michael Maciocia, who gave a detailed presentation on his fears that the centre will create noise and pollution and use massive amounts of energy and water.

Mr Maciocia is urgently trying raise awareness among the community of the two huge buildings that developers Apatura hope to build on the Scottish Enterprise-owned land in Glenbervie Business Park, just off Bellsdyke Road.

At 25m tall, he said, the structure will dominate the area and there is also evidence, he said, that similar developments generate so much heat that they raise the temperature by 1.5 degrees.

As around 400 residents streamed into the Dobbie Hall, a loud whine could be heard in the background – a recording of the type of noise residents could expect if the development goes ahead, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, according to Mr Maciocia.

Among those attending were Alloa & Grangemouth Labour MP Brian Leishman and SNP MSP Gary Bouse, as well as Larbert & Bonnybridge councillor Jack Redmond.

Brian Leishman has already spoken out against the development in Westminster while recently elected Falkirk West MSP, Gary Bouse, is one of several MSPs who has now raised the matter in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Bouse, who lives locally and is also a councillor for the neighbouring ward, Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst, says he will continue to ask questions and he also urged those attending to make their feelings known through Falkirk Council’s planning portal, whether they are for or against.

As a former member of Falkirk Council’s planning committee he promised that the all of the issues raised will be considered carefully and he cast doubt on the assertion that the matter would be decided by October.

For such a major development, the council is obliged to hold a Pre-Determination Hearing, which can be held in person or on-line.

This will give councillors – and the community – a chance to hear from the developers as well as those who are opposed to the project.

The Larbert application is one of 19 that are currently making their way through planning authorities across Scotland.

Mr Bouse said: “This application is the only one that has an Environmental Impact Assessment submitted as part of it – and that is only because Falkirk Council’s planning officers insisted on it.”

When asked if there was any point in submitting a detailed objection, he replied: “Yes, absolutely there is.”

Members of the council’s planning committee cannot make any kind of statement on the development as that would mean they would not be allowed to take part in a vote.

After the presentation, residents, who were given a chance to ask questions, said they wanted to know what to do to stop it.

Mr Maciocia told them that raising awareness with their neighbours was the most important thing they could do and then submitting an objection through Falkirk Council’s planning portal.

For those looking for more information on how to submit objections that are relevant to planning policy, he advised visiting the website of campaign group Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) or the local Facebook group Say No To Larbert Data Centre.

He also highlighted a petition for the Larbert area that he has set up on Change.org as well as a national petition organised by APRS, calling for a moratorium until clearer guidance is put in place by the Scottish Government.

Larbert residents have highlighted that the development is next door to a care home and close to Forth Valley Royal Hospital as well as thousands of homes.

Some suggest that a brownfield site would be more suitable.

But many who are speaking out say that no planning permission should be granted until the impact these data centres will have across Scotland is more fully understood.

A demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday was called at short notice but still had representatives from the 19 communities across Scotland who could be affected, with politicians from many parties showing support.

The Scottish Greens MSP for Central Scotland, Gillian McKay, joined the campaigners outside Holyrood.

She said: “A lot of local people are concerned about the impact that this application would have on our local environment and the community in Larbert.

“It’s time for a halt to all hyperscale developments until there is a national strategy and guidance in place for councils to consider them.

“Developments like this can have a catastrophic environmental impact, taking up far too much water and power. It’s no wonder that local people are so concerned about what it would mean.

“The huge expansion we are seeing is bad for people and planet, and is mainly about enriching giant AI companies.

“Communities around the world have experienced energy price rises as a direct result of similar developments. We don’t want the same thing to happen in Larbert.”

Friends of the Earth Falkirk also attended the demonstration to show their opposition, saying they were reminded of the successful campaign to stop fracking in 2014.

Norman Philip said: “The gathering at parliament was a reminder to all the community groups that they are not alone with their concern about the data centre proposed in their community.

“We are in a climate emergency and proposing a polluting, energy guzzling Data Centre within 500 meters of our regional hospital must not be allowed.”

Apatura Energy has been approached for comment.