Residents raise concerns about public health, energy use, and environmental impact of data centres in the UK.
Full planning documents for the proposed data centre at 51 Bridle Road, Netherton, Liverpool are publicly available through Sefton Planning here. Local residents are worried that its location in a densely populated community could have serious impacts on public health, energy use, and the environment.
For a community surrounding the site, Netherton could literally and figuratively take the heat as digital networks and connected technologies expand in the area. Continuous operations, high-capacity servers, and industrial cooling systems generate significant heat, energy demand, and environmental strain, and the development is situated in close proximity to homes and local businesses.
Energy and Climate Concerns
Planning drawings for the proposed Netherton data centre appear to show rows of chimneys and cooling radiators along the rooftops, designed to release the heat generated by the servers. Residents are concerned that this could represent wasted energy vented into the environment and that the high and continuous energy demand of the facility could place additional strain on local electricity and water infrastructure.
Question: Who is the client behind this development?
Source/Image: Sefton Council Planning Documents
What the small print is really saying?
This drawing shows a conceptual plan for the Netherton Data Centre. It is for guidance only and illustrates approximate building sizes and locations. Dimensions are not accurate and must be verified on-site. Future-tech and the client accept no liability for any use beyond its intended purpose.
Public Health Concerns
Continuous exposure to electromagnetic fields, industrial emissions, and nearby digital infrastructure presents a potential public health risk. The long-term effects of combined exposures, particularly on children, older adults, and other vulnerable populations, have not been adequately studied. This data centre is a visible consequence of the growth in wireless technology, showing how increasing data needs require large facilities that have real-world impacts on communities.
Connection to Digital Networks
We are concerned that the proposed data centre is likely to support the growing digital infrastructure in Liverpool and Sefton, including the city’s largest 5G Stand Alone network at street level in Europe.
According to Liverpool 5G (https://liverpool5g.org.uk/), the network operates in the 4GHz and 60GHz spectrum and states that, when following ICNIRP guidelines, no negative health effects are likely for adults or children.
It is important to note that ICNIRP and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been heavily criticised by independent doctors and scientists, particularly regarding cumulative, long-term, and multi-source exposures.
Independent scientific evidence highlights concerns, including:
- ◆ Professor James C. Lin’s review of WHO RF systematic reviews identifies major methodological flaws, dismissals of thousands of studies on oxidative stress, and conflicts of interest (https://radiationresearch.org/an-exclusive-review-of-professor-james-c-lins-report-on-the-who-rf-systematic-reviews/)
- ◆ Evidence that RF radiation can contribute to oxidative stress, cancer, neurological disease, reproductive harm, and accelerated ageing
- ◆ The limited effects acknowledged even by ICNIRP, such as impacts on peripheral nerves, are often overlooked by councils in planning decisions
The expansion of high-capacity networks raises questions about cumulative exposure, energy demand, and infrastructure impacts on local communities, and residents are concerned about how such developments affect health, homes, and the local environment.
Community Voices and Action
On Saturday, residents joined together at a public outreach to raise awareness about the proposed data centre and its location in a densely populated community. Local residents also hand-delivered objection letters directly to Sefton Council, demonstrating that Netherton is not willing to take the heat without having their voices heard.
EM Radiation Research Trust Director Eileen O’Connor joined the residents and voiced strong objections. As Eileen said in her public video: “I came along to support the residents of Netherton. I am really concerned about an enormous data centre here, one of 400 in the country. I am not surprised that Sefton Council have supported this. The energy draw is massive. It is putting people’s lives, homes, and health at risk. For what? To service a massive 5G network that nobody really wants for faster downloads and uploads. What about our children? What about our wellbeing? It is time the council started listening to the people rather than industry.”
Watch the full video here: Eileen O’Connor and Netherton residents discuss the data centre Eileen O’Connor and Netherton residents discuss the data centre
Watch the video here: Residents hand-deliver objection letters to Sefton Council https://youtu.be/M7AGBkkWYmw?si=ULK9t4gI1_SbBk2d
Over 200 Residents Sign Letter
A letter signed by over 200 local residents was hand-delivered to Sefton Council on Monday. This letter, produced by the Residents Association, outlines concerns about public health, energy use, environmental impact, and the lack of transparency surrounding the planning process.
Download the PDF of the residents’ objection letter here:
Conclusion
The proposed data centre in Netherton raises serious questions about the impacts of high-capacity digital infrastructure on health, homes, and the local environment. Residents have come together to voice their concerns through public outreach, video statements, and hand-delivered objection letters. It is essential that Sefton Council carefully considers the views of the community and the potential risks before granting approval.
Residents are encouraged to review the planning documents, submit objections, and participate in consultations to ensure that decisions affecting the wellbeing of the community are made with full transparency and accountability.