Wednesday August 26th 2026
AI data centre campaigners
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Campaigners aim to “turn the tables” on a member of the nobility behind plans for a huge AI data centre on remote Scottish Borders moorland – with a peaceful protest at his stately home this weekend.
The Duke of Roxburghe and Roxburghe Estates are driving forces behind the proposed centre in Longformacus, on the Lammermuir Hills near Duns.
The Save the Lammermuirs – Stop the Data Centre campaign group was set up by locals to oppose the proposal and the “industrialisation” of the landscape close to their homes.
And this weekend group members plan to show up on the doorstep of the Duke, Charles Innes-Ker, while staging a peaceful protest at his grand home – luxurious Floors Castle in Kelso.
On Saturday and Sunday, August 29 and 30, the castle is staging an event called ‘Inflatable Insanity’.
According to the castle website, adults and children over the age of five will “bounce, climb, slide and laugh their way around an unforgettable inflatable adventure featuring 15 giant inflated obstacles, including some of the HIGHEST inflatable slides in the UK”.
The advertising blurb states the “15 extreme inflatable obstacles … are unlike anything we’ve ever seen before”.
Save the Lammermuirs campaigners say that the adverts for the event attracted their attention – and sparked an idea.
A spokesperson explained: “The Duke of Roxburghe and Roxburghe Estates are planning to build a monster AI data centre on our doorstep in Longformacus, near Duns.
“The development will be ‘extreme’ in scale and will be ‘unlike anything we’ve ever seen before in the Scottish Borders’.
“Sadly this AI data centre will not be inflated like a bouncy castle and used for one weekend, then deflated and taken away.
“It will take years to build, and it will cause all kinds of damage and disruption to the environment, to wildlife, to the local community and to everything that people love and value about this corner of the Lammermuirs.
“The proposed site is over 20 miles from the Duke’s home at Floors Castle in Kelso. If the data centre goes ahead, you can be sure that the Duke won’t be troubled by the noise, heat or pollution.
“But the community and the wider Scottish Borders will be left to pay the price long after Roxburghe Estates has made its profit.
“This is a good time to turn the tables and bring a reminder of our opposition to the Duke’s doorstep.’
‘We believe that this data centre is the wrong development in the wrong place. It could be described as insanity from an environmental point of view, and it’s certainly an over-inflated monstrosity to impose on a beautiful corner of the Lammermuirs.”
The ‘Peaceful Protest’ is due to take place from 10am till noon on Saturday, August 29, outside the Golden Gates at the top of Roxburgh Street.
The campaign has made it clear to supporters that they do not want to disrupt the Floors Castle event.
They do want to raise awareness of the data centre plans and share information with anyone who stops by to chat or ask questions.
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