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Data centre protesters fear 'Bond villain levels' of damage

Gina MillsonLancashire political reporter
BBC An image of a number of protestors outside Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. Two of the are holding a sign which says Stop Silicone Sands Now in yellow letters on a black background. Others are holding small red stop signs.BBC
Protesters gathered near to the proposed site at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone
Gina MillsonLancashire political reporter

Protesters took to the streets near the site of a planned new data centre to raise concerns about the environment and jobs, with one local politician fearing "Bond villain levels" of harm.

The Silicone Sands scheme, planned for a site at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, is being hailed by Blackpool Council as a "game-changer" for the area.

Friday's protest came as a separate petition set up against the development reached 1,441 signatures.

The council is working towards the end of 2027 for building work to start on the site, and has predicted it could generate up to £14 billion for the regional economy.

But protest organiser Caryl Archer questioned those figures.

"We think that figure is not accurate," he said.

"For example, with the jobs, data centres are largely operated remotely and the only staff are security staff and operations and those are the kinds of jobs that will end up going to the locals.

"But perhaps the higher paid jobs will go elsewhere."

Blackpool council Concept artwork of how Silicon Sands could look. It shows several low, flat buildings in orange with many windows and surrounded by trees and grass. There is a road down the middle with several cars and cyclistsBlackpool council
A computerised impression of how the Silicon Sands data centre could look

Among those attending the protest was Ash, who also expressed doubts about the project's economic impact.

"For a data centre, all you need is the construction and then maintenance here and there. It doesn't require people hands-on every day so it's not permanent jobs."

In response, council leader Lynn Williams said she "understood" residents' concerns but insisted the town needed to embrace new opportunities.

She said: "We need new industries, new investment and well-paid jobs.

"We want to make sure Blackpool is part of the future, not just watching those opportunities pass us by."

Environmental concerns about data centres were also raised during the demonstration.

Helen Perry represents the Blackpool and Fylde Green Party and was at the protest.

She said: "We're really looking at Bond villain levels of damage and harm that they can do to the environment.

"[Data centres] use as much water as three major cities. We don't want this in Blackpool."

Williams added: "We want to do it differently.

"Just because other places have done it badly, we can learn from mistakes, we can correct that and make sure it also has that a positive impact for the future of the town."