Residents are being encouraged to help shape Great Torrington Town Council’s response to proposals for an AI data centre and battery energy storage system, with the mayor urging the community to take part in a forthcoming public consultation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 1, Great Torrington Town Council thanked residents for engaging with recent proposals submitted by XLinks to develop an AI data centre and battery energy storage system (BESS) in the town.
The statement, from Cllr Dave Parish, said the council would continue attending meetings relating to the proposals and would gather feedback from the community before responding when planning applications are submitted.
The council said it is a statutory consultee for planning applications within the parish and will provide comments to Torridge District Council if formal applications are made. It added that it must keep an open mind throughout the planning process while listening to comments from residents and interested parties.
Residents are being encouraged to attend a series of public information days and complete a public consultation questionnaire, which the council said would be available from Tuesday, July 14 on the Devon Data Campus website.
The statement also noted that members of the public will have an opportunity to submit comments or objections through the Torridge District Council Planning Portal if planning applications are submitted by XLinks.
The scheduled public information events are:
- Tuesday, July 14 – 12.30pm to 7pm – Weare Giffard Village Hall, Weare Giffard.
- Wednesday, July 15 – 12.30pm to 8pm – Great Torrington Town Hall.
- Thursday, July 16 – 12.30pm to 8pm – Huntshaw Parish Hall, Huntshaw.
- Friday, July 17 – 10am to 1.30pm – Caddsdown Business Support Centre, Bideford.
The council said further information and the consultation questionnaire would be available at https://www.devondatacampus.com/ from Tuesday, July 14.
