Hareshaw is a small village on the outskirts of Cleland. It is a village surrounded by green fields and farmland.

Two planning permission applications covering North and South Lanridge farmland for the construction of a data centre and associated infrastructure and utilities including substation, battery energy storage (BES) and generators have been submitted to North Lanarkshire Council.

The current application for South Lanridge land has 1349 application constraints and North Lanridge 485 application constraints. These are legal, environmental or policy-based restrictions that may limit development on a site.

These constraints do not fully recognise the impact this proposal will have on the village and the greenbelt surrounding the village.

The proposals threaten our local ecosystem and wildlife habitats. Nature thrives and wildlife is plentiful with pheasants and deer regularly visible. Our farmland is full of sheep, lambs and cattle providing vital food sources to our country.

The impact on food sources from the removal of farmland should not be underestimated particularly with the growing food shortages due to armed conflicts

The proposals will require significant electrical energy supply and vast amounts of water (approx. 350-500 million gallons) to operate. These demands may impact on our services.

In addition, data centres and battery energy systems pose a potential fire and explosion risk, yet the proposed site is in proximity to the M8, a part of the Scottish Government Critical National Infrastructure, next to a petrol station and in the flight path of international and local airports.

The UK Government publication “Health and Safety in grid scale electrical energy systems “states that “ some of the hazards associated with BESS pose a serious risk to the immediate vicinity of any BESS, which places an emphasis on the consideration of site location”.

The document also states that “Studies and risk assessments for the local ecosystems must be considered in site proposals, as the release of potentially harmful gases and chemicals could cause irreparable damage to the nearby environment”.

And that “ Former industrial or brownfield sites can be attractive for battery storage given the reduced environment planning concerns (compared to greenfield sites) and the greater potential for nearby grid infrastructure”.

We recognise the importance of data centres and battery energy storage systems, but we must ensure that the impact they have on our ecosystem, biodiversity, safety and security do not outweigh the benefits they may offer.  

 We therefore ask that you sign this petition in opposition to the installation of data centres and BESS at Hareshaw.