Apple’s battle to get approval for their $1 billion data center in Ireland continues, as the company prepares to go to High Court due to an appeal filed by three residents to have planning permission for the project overturned.
The High Court has agreed to an Apple request to fast-track court proceedings to minimize any further delay, and the case will be heard this coming Monday, November 7.
Apple announced plans for a new data center back in February 2015. While the project has support from both the private and governmental sectors, it has faced objections over concerns such as potential flooding, power usage, and the project’s effect on local wildlife and livestock. The request for a High Court review stems from objections by three private parties.
However, Apple does have plenty of supporters in the Athenry area, where the proposed data center would be built, and one resident has organized a march in support of Apple. Business Insider reports local resident Dale Pinto has organized a march, set for this Sunday, to demonstrate support for Apple.
In a bid to show that the wider Athenry community is in support of Apple’s plans, local residents are planning a march through the town centre this Sunday. Many of them are deeply upset that Apple’s data centre is facing ongoing delays and some of them are concerned that Apple will abandon its plans altogether if it’s held up much longer.
Pinto’s Facebook event description reads:
“We want to show Apple, and the whole world, that the vast majority of Athenry people support wholeheartedly Apple’s desire to open a data centre near our town
PLEASE ATTEND THIS EVENT, AND MAKE EVERYONE YOU KNOW AWARE OF IT.
This is a marvellous opportunity for Athenry, and the West Of Ireland. Please do not let this opportunity slip through our fingers.
PLEASE DO NOT UPSET THE APPLECART”
The March will head off from Athenry Church at 11:45am Athenry time. At the time of of this post, 119 people have said that they will be participating in the march.
If the Athenry data center is ever finished, it is expected to cost in the realm of 850 million euros, and will eventually grow to as many as eight data halls. The project was expected to be the first European data center for Apple, but a Danish center currently under construction is now expected to be finished first.
(Via 9to5Mac)
