TORRIDGE District Council says a letter from the authority indicating support for an AI Growth Zone last May was intended to leave the door open for opportunity for high-paid employment and long-term investment in the district.

The letter, which came to light after Freedom of Information requests by campaigners against a £13 billion data centre and battery energy storage site (BESS) proposed for Great Torrington, has sparked criticism because it was not debated or endorsed by the whole council.

Green councillor Huw Thomas (Bideford East) is asking for the letter signed by an officer and approved by the council leader Cllr Ken James (Ind, Milton and Tamarside) and lead member for estates and economy Cllr Bob Hicks (Ind, Monkleigh and Putford) to be formally withdrawn.

He claims it was sent after “a sales pitch” by Xlinks, the company behind the data centre scheme, when the full details of its scale and location were not known.

In a statement the council said the letter was in support of the Expression of Interest to establish a AI Growth Zone and was sent “from the perspective of investigating the possibilities of bringing higher-skilled employment to the local area, with a view to addressing the social mobility challenges often faced in the area”.

It said the letter related to an application by Xlinks for its proposal to be part of the round one cohort for the government’s AI Growth Zone programme but its bid was unsuccessful and therefore the letter of support was “no longer active” and did not need to be withdrawn.

The council was not aware of a current application by the Xlinks team or anyone else, it said.

Cllr James said: “The letter sent in support of a potential AI Growth Zone was intended to make it possible for the council to open further discussions about the creation of high-skilled, highly paid employment in the district should an AI Growth Zone and any data centre planning application be submitted and subsequently approved.

“It was not a letter that indicated support for the specifics of a future data centre or its proposed location.

“As such it was intended to leave the door open for opportunity should decisions (made by others and to the best of my knowledge with complete integrity) create conditions for a growth zone which could potentially attract significant and long-term investment and opportunities for local people.

“As the leader of the council, I am extremely proud of how we have been able to attract investment to Torridge to deliver projects, create better jobs and increase opportunities for our residents.”

Details of the Xlinks proposal for a data centre on 850 acres of farmland above Great Torrington were made public in June this year and include buildings up to 40 metres high. It would be one of the largest projects of its kind in Europe but as yet no formal planning application has been made to the planning authority for that or the BESS site.

It has led to massive opposition with regular protests held in Torrington and outside Torridge District Council’s premises in Bideford. A film and song, “Stop the Monster”, have been released.

Local residents are concerned of its impact within a UNESCO biosphere reserve, on the environment, water supply and wildlife.

Cllr Thomas said he was intending to bring a motion before the council on December 5 which asks for formal withdrawal of the letter.

The letter includes the statement: “Council members have now been briefed on the AI Data Centre proposals and are initially supportive of the higher-skill, higher-salaried focus employment opportunities. It is positive that the proposals have also received pre-application advice from Torridge as the local planning authority and our planning team are determined to work proactively and collaboratively as that planning process moves forward.”

Cllr Thomas said that “only 18 of the 36 district councillors were present at the informal briefing” on the plans. “Those attending did not endorse the proposal and none of the information was circulated to the councillors who weren’t present”.

“This (letter) goes way beyond just giving outline support for something that might bring some more jobs to the district. This is backing a proposal that could have huge impacts on our environment, our roads, our health and our economy.

“Xlinks are not philanthropists doing this for the good of Torridge. They are a commercial organisation out to make money. This letter backs their plans without there having been any independent assessment of their claims about the project’s impacts and benefits.”

Torridge District Council’s planning committee will determine any planning application that comes forward.