A PETITION demanding an immediate moratorium on the construction of AI datacentres and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) outside of designated AI growth zones has already attracted thousands of signatures.

It was launched by Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Torridge District Council, an area which could see a data centre which covers vast acres and is 131ft tall built in a rural area near Torrington.

The petition aims to touch the zeitgeist of concern about the environmental and social impact of vast proposals of a similar nature to that being proposed in Devon.

Cllr Cottle-Hunkin is calling for an immediate moratorium, also known as a temporary pause, on planning approvals for battery energy storage systems and data centres outside of the designated AI growth zones in addition to mandatory rural impact assessments conducted at a local level and a mandatory comprehensive investigation into the financing behind all the present proposals.

If the petition reaches 10,000 responses, it will receive a response from the UK government and if the petition reaches the 100,000 signatures figure, it will be considered to be the subject of a debate in Parliament.

In the petition, which achieved 4,000 signatures in its first day, Cllr Cottle-Hunkin further explained the reasons for doing so, adding: “We believe robust evaluation is needed as to the cost to benefit analysis of each BESS and data centre and all financing, including non UK-based funds.

“Proposals outside AI growth zones can be highly problematic because they may seek to evade regulation and government scrutiny. Rural areas are especially vulnerable and there are reports of farmers being threatened with compulsory purchase orders.

“The loss of farmland could endanger UK food security and irreparable harm may be caused to heritage, landscapes, ecology, public health and wellbeing.”

The petition can be found at www.parliament.uk/petitions/776949