Tuesday September 1st 2026
Photos by Iñaki Malvido
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Campaigners at the weekend took their campaign to block plans for a massive Scottish Borders AI data centre to the doorstep of the man behind it.
On Saturday morning about 50 protesters gathered near the Golden Gates in Kelso, beside a temporary sign directing visitors to the ‘Inflatable Insanity’ event in the grounds of Floors Castle.
Floors Castle is the home of Charles Innes-Ker, the 11th Duke of Roxburghe, and his wife, the Duchess Annie.
Roxburghe Estates, owned by the duke and his family, is proposing to build the Southside Data Centre in the Lammermuirs near Longformacus.
From the start it was a peaceful protest, and people from across the Borders and Berwickshire were represented.
They were united in their determination to raise awareness and stop the massive AI data centre.
The protesters appreciated the many cars and vans which hooted loudly in support as they drove up Roxburgh Street, and the helpfulness of the police and local business owners.
Rachael Pygall from the campaign said: “It was wonderful to see how many people turned up in support of our campaign.
“It was clear from the emotions involved and the conversations held, that we all feel extremely passionately about this issue.
“Although the protest was a big success, our campaign still has a long way to go, so we are grateful for all the continued support.”
Kathleen White, also from Save the Lammermuirs, added: “This is a very serious campaign, and the protest brought home to us the widespread strength of opposition.
“It’s clear that the more people learn and understand about the impact of AI data centres, the less they want them.”
This message will be put across to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, September 3, when a group from Save the Lammermuirs will join with protesters from about 15 other hyperscale data centre campaigns in Scotland.
The groups will meet at Holyrood to put their concerns to MSPs, and to call again for a moratorium on data centre development in Scotland.
This would allow a pause for the country and the government to think seriously about what Scotland needs and wants, and how to ensure that the potentially very damaging consequences of AI data centres are minimised.
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