Hundreds pack public meeting over concerns about plans for massive data centre

Over 200 people attended the public meeting in Auchtertool to discuss ILI Cato Limited’s bid to get planning permission in principle for a data centre campus on land to the north-west of the village.

The proposals include a complex of data hall buildings, which could be as high as 35 metres, as well as electricity substations, security fencing, gatehouses and other infrastructure.

The company says the project would provide essential infrastructure across the Scottish Central Belt where IT services can be delivered in close proximity to the majority of end users, and where sufficient land electrical connection and renewable energy supply are available.

But serious concerns have been raised about the scale of the development which, it is understood, would use the equivalent energy of half of Scotland’s households.

Addressing Wednesday’s meeting, Andrea Cail, chair of the village’s community council, said the group had been “overwhelmed” by the response since the planning application was lodged with Fife Council.

“This is a big issue. Not just for Auchtertool, not just for Fife, not just for Scotland but for the world and we have to make a stand,” she said. A 600mw data centre is not a local planning matter in our view. It is national infrastructure.”

Ms Cail said the selected site is the equivalent to 100 football pitches with the buildings likely to be the size of eight double decker buses stacked on top of each other.

“The village is in the corner and looks quite tiny in comparison,” she said. “There’s a bit in the planning application that they plan to harvest the rain water to provide the daily needs but there is no data to stack that up.”

Impact on water supply was also cited as a concern as well as noise, while the key focus is on a possible legal challenge to Fife Council after it did not request an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which evaluates potential projects ahead of a formal planning application being submitted.

Those attending were also shown footage of an American data centre to highlight what sounds would come from the centre.

“It is a bit like living in an airport. That is what it sounds like to me,” added Ms Cail. “There is significant noise. This is being played down and not been given any proper foundation.”

Sally McKenzie, a trustee on the Auchtertool Community Trust, urged locals to ensure their voice is heard.

“This is not a local planning matter and it should not be left to local councils and local communities to decide which monster is going to be consuming the energy we are currently generating for our country and other countries,” she stated.

One local resident, said it was “the biggest decision” to be made in Scotland, adding: “There needs to be a national framework from the top down because at the moment this is a national disgrace if this goes ahead for the next generations,” he said.

The meeting was attended by MSPs David Torrance )(SNP) and Mark Ruskell (Scottish Greens), as well as Councillors Kathleen Leslie and Lesley Backhouse, while Melanie Ward MP’s office was represented, with plans to meet the local group this weekend.

Mr Ruskell said the meeting turnout showed the “wide concern” across Fife and the whole of Scotland.

“We need to work together on this. I have already written to Fife Council and have got a question in the Scottish Parliament next week to the planning minister,” he said.

“Where we are now is where we were 15 years ago with fracking. Corporations saw the opportunity to move in and exploit that gap in planning. I think we are in the same position now. There is a massive gap in terms of planning and I cannot see how it can get the go ahead right now.”

After the meeting, Ms Cail said she was “overwhelmed and excited” by the response.

She added: “I kind of feel we have got a chance but I take nothing for granted. It is a big battle we are up against, a big company and big money so it is not a fight that we are going to take on lightly.

“We have done our bit to contribute to Scotland’s economy with all the wind farms and battery storage. We are full up.”