Roadside protest during Tour or Britain cycle race over proposed Borders AI data centre
Opponents of a proposed £2 billion AI data centre in the Scottish Borders took their campaign to the roadside at the weekend during the final stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race.
Anyone who followed the live coverage of the final stage of the race on Sunday, September 6, will have seen fantastic views of the Borders and East Lothian countryside, and heard enthusiastic commentary about everything the region offers to visitors.
For the members of the Save the Lammermuirs campaign, it was a wake-up call.
They started asking themselves how things are likely to change if the proposed Southside Data Centre is built on the Lammermuir Hills, as planned, right in the heart of the area that had attracted so many competitors, supporters, visitors and viewers on Sunday.
A spokesperson said: “The final stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race came over the Lammermuirs and down through Longformacus.
“We had our banner and placards out at the side of the road in the village, and two big banners up on Hardens Hill, to raise awareness of the data centre and promote the campaign.
“But first and foremost we were there to welcome and cheer on the competitors.
“We’re proud of the fact that the Scottish Borders is a renowned destination for cycling. The remote and wild hill road above Longformacus is a favoured route, and we want this to continue.
“If an industrial scale data centre is built within sight of that road, it will be a huge, ugly blot on the landscape.
“It will fundamentally alter the character of this corner of the Lammermuirs and destroy its value as an area that people want to visit, and return to.”
The Save the Lammermuirs campaign has now collected nearly 47,000 signatures on its online petition.