Latest news with #Foxglove
CBC
29-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Family of woman found dead at Surrey, B.C., supportive housing facility calls for change
The son of a B.C. woman whose body sat in a supportive housing unit for 11 days before being discovered was at the legislature Wednesday. Diane Chandler was battling depression and addiction issues when she moved into Surrey's Foxglove housing, where her children believed she would be safe.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Data centre blitz threatens Labour's net zero hopes
Sir Keir Starmer's bid to boost the economy with a slew of new data centres threatens to undermine Labour's net zero goals, campaigners have warned. Just one £10bn data centre project in the North East will emit as much carbon dioxide as one of Britain's busiest airports, highlighting the difficult trade-offs facing the Prime Minister as he seeks to both improve growth and reduce emissions. A complex of 10 facilities near Blyth, Northumberland, will generate more greenhouse gas emissions than Birmingham Airport, which carries 12m passengers per year, planning documents show. The project, which will cover 133 acres, is being helmed by Blackstone-backed QTS and was touted by the Prime Minister last September as a 'huge vote of confidence in the UK'. Work is expected to start on the site later this year. Martha Dark, of the non-profit group Foxglove, said: 'It is difficult to see how the Government plans to reach its manifesto commitment of hitting net zero by 2050 when it is approving construction projects that add the impact of a major regional airport to our annual emissions.' Data centres are crucial to artificial intelligence (AI) and Sir Keir has made establishing them a key priority as he seeks to harness the new technology. Data centres were designated as critical national infrastructure last September and the Prime Minister has identified certain areas as 'AI growth zones', making it is easier to build there. The projects require huge amounts of power. In a report this week, Alex de Vries-Gao, founder of the Digiconomist website, calculated AI data centres would need 23GW of power worldwide by the end of 2025. The UK's average national power demand is around 30GW. Tech companies have turned to nuclear to try and meet the surging demand for power in an environmentally friendly way, including restarting ageing plants. However, the industry has struggled to bring nuclear power online fast enough to meet rising demand. Both Microsoft and Google reported increases in their carbon emissions in their latest annual reports. In a paper published in the journal Joule, Mr de Vries-Gao said: 'There are early indications that these data centres could exacerbate dependence on fossil fuels.' The 'hyperscale' data centre in Blyth, which received the green light earlier this month, will emit 184,160 tonnes of CO2 per year once operational. Northumberland County Council, which approved the scheme, said the facility would double its overall industrial emissions and represent 12pc of the county's overall emissions by 2030. Council documents show officials asked QTS to consider adding more renewable power or battery storage facilities to its plans, however the developer had 'discounted' these as impractical. The data facility's expected emissions assume the UK remains on track with its plans to decarbonise the grid. In an environmental report submitted by QTS, the operator said it had received feedback that the council was concerned the project could 'throw off' the local authority's own green target of carbon neutrality by 2030. Councillors agreed to proceed with the scheme regardless. Ms Dark said: 'The most optimistic forecasts for this new hyperscale data centre in Northumberland say it would create close to 200,000 tonnes of new carbon emissions each year – somewhere between the annual emissions of Birmingham and Edinburgh airports.' A Government spokesman said: 'Our Clean Power Action Plan will enable the development of new energy intensive industries such as data centres, helping to grow the economy. 'Advanced modular reactors will play a particularly important role in growing energy-hungry sectors like AI and we're shaking up the planning rules to make it easier to build nuclear power stations across the country.' A Northumberland County Council spokesman said: 'The council's strategic planning committee carefully considered a wide range of issues contained within the environmental statement submitted as part of the application under the EIA regulations. 'In making their decision members noted that the applicant will be utilising a high number of sustainable practices which will help to mitigate its carbon footprint. The applicant will also continue to look at innovative technology throughout the life of the development, which could in the future help to mitigate against this further.' A QTS spokesman said: 'The right energy mix is crucial for building this vital infrastructure. From day one, our industry-leading design and advanced water-cooling systems will drive maximum energy efficiency. We are further committed to finding new ways to reducing future emissions by integrating renewables into our energy supply and repurposing residual heat to benefit the local community.' Blackstone bought the site in Blyth, Northumberland, that QTS now plans to develop last year after the failure of Britishvolt, an electric vehicle battery business, which had originally intended to develop the land. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Data centre blitz threatens Labour's net zero hopes
Sir Keir Starmer's bid to boost the economy with a slew of new data centres threatens to undermine Labour's net zero goals, campaigners have warned. Just one £10bn data centre project in the North East will emit as much carbon dioxide as one of Britain's busiest airports, highlighting the difficult trade-offs facing the Prime Minister as he seeks to both improve growth and reduce emissions. A complex of 10 facilities near Blyth, Northumberland, will generate more greenhouse gas emissions than Birmingham Airport, which carries 12m passengers per year, planning documents show. The project, which will cover 133 acres, is being helmed by Blackstone-backed QTS and was touted by the Prime Minister last September as a 'huge vote of confidence in the UK'. Work is expected to start on the site later this year. Martha Dark, of the non-profit group Foxglove, said: 'It is difficult to see how the Government plans to reach its manifesto commitment of hitting net zero by 2050 when it is approving construction projects that add the impact of a major regional airport to our annual emissions.' Data centres are crucial to artificial intelligence (AI) and Sir Keir has made establishing them a key priority as he seeks to harness the new technology. Data centres were designated as critical national infrastructure last September and the Prime Minister has identified certain areas as 'AI growth zones', making it is easier to build there. The projects require huge amounts of power. In a report this week, Alex de Vries-Gao, founder of the Digiconomist website, calculated AI data centres would need 23GW of power worldwide by the end of 2025. The UK's average national power demand is around 30GW. Tech companies have turned to nuclear to try and meet the surging demand for power in an environmentally friendly way, including restarting ageing plants. However, the industry has struggled to bring nuclear power online fast enough to meet rising demand. Both Microsoft and Google reported increases in their carbon emissions in their latest annual reports. In a paper published in the journal Joule, Mr de Vries-Gao said: 'There are early indications that these data centres could exacerbate dependence on fossil fuels.' The 'hyperscale' scheme The 'hyperscale' data centre in Blyth, which received the green light earlier this month, will emit 184,160 tonnes of CO2 per year once operational. Northumberland County Council, which approved the scheme, said the facility would double its overall industrial emissions and represent 12pc of the county's overall emissions by 2030. Council documents show officials asked QTS to consider adding more renewable power or battery storage facilities to its plans, however the developer had 'discounted' these as impractical. The data facility's expected emissions assume the UK remains on track with its plans to decarbonise the grid. In an environmental report submitted by QTS, the operator said it had received feedback that the council was concerned the project could 'throw off' the local authority's own green target of carbon neutrality by 2030. Councillors agreed to proceed with the scheme regardless. Ms Dark said: 'The most optimistic forecasts for this new hyperscale data centre in Northumberland say it would create close to 200,000 tonnes of new carbon emissions each year – somewhere between the annual emissions of Birmingham and Edinburgh airports.' A Government spokesman said: 'Our Clean Power Action Plan will enable the development of new energy intensive industries such as data centres, helping to grow the economy. 'Advanced modular reactors will play a particularly important role in growing energy-hungry sectors like AI and we're shaking up the planning rules to make it easier to build nuclear power stations across the country.' A Northumberland County Council spokesman said: 'The council's strategic planning committee carefully considered a wide range of issues contained within the environmental statement submitted as part of the application under the EIA regulations. 'In making their decision members noted that the applicant will be utilising a high number of sustainable practices which will help to mitigate its carbon footprint. The applicant will also continue to look at innovative technology throughout the life of the development, which could in the future help to mitigate against this further.' A QTS spokesman said: 'The right energy mix is crucial for building this vital infrastructure. From day one, our industry-leading design and advanced water-cooling systems will drive maximum energy efficiency. We are further committed to finding new ways to reducing future emissions by integrating renewables into our energy supply and repurposing residual heat to benefit the local community.'
CBC
15-05-2025
- CBC
Mother of man who's body lay in supportive housing for 3 days says little has changed
A recent CBC investigation has revealed that it took 11 days to find a tenant's body in supportive housing in 2024. Diane Chandler died from an overdose of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl in her room at the Foxglove. CBC News has also learned now that Years before that, Cyndie Richard's son Shawn died in a different supportive housing building... and it took three days for staff to find his body.
CBC
07-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
'Deeply ashamed': Body sat for 11 days after overdose death in 'first-of-it's kind' supportive housing complex
When Diane Chandler found a unit in Surrey's Foxglove supportive housing building in 2023, the main thing her children hoped for was safety. The 60-year-old had spent years battling depression and addiction, surviving on disability payments as she moved between temporary shelters and her car. And the Foxglove — a multi-use building designed to house people living with complex mental health and substance use problems — came praised by municipal, provincial and federal politicians, including former Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum and B.C. Premier David Eby. But none of those protections would save Chandler, who died from an overdose of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl in her room in the Foxglove almost a year ago. Adding to the pain of their mother's loss, Chandler's children say they discovered weeks after she died that her body wasn't found for 11 days — overlooked in what the CBC has learned was a case of mistaken identity. "I just hoped that she was safe," Chandler's son, Tyler Gibbs, told the CBC. "If she was struggling with something, there'd be someone to help her. Just to talk with her and help her out with that. I think the main thing for me is just making sure it was a safe place, is what it is for me. That was what was most important — that it's safe." 'It makes her life seem worthless' Diane Chandler's death is one of eight Foxglove overdose deaths described in critical incident reports sent to B.C. Housing obtained by CBC through freedom of information. Beyond the shocking revelations regarding the delay in finding Chandler's body, the documents detail the housing agency's concern that the deaths might make their way into the media. Chandler's family say the tragedy also raises important but thorny questions as to when a permissive approach to housing the most vulnerable people in B.C. communities borders on enabling addiction. Although a manager with RainCity Housing and Support Society — the nonprofit organization which operates the Foxglove — told Tyler Gibbs in an email that the agency was "deeply ashamed" by what happened, Gibbs and his sister say B.C. Housing has never reached out to them. Carley Gibbs says her mother — a Canucks fan who was devoted to her children — deserved better. "It makes her life seem worthless. People who have mental health problems and who have drug addiction are not worthless," the 29-year-old said in an interview. "And the way that our systems put them into these housings and just let them live is not how people get better. People need action and counselling, and active support, not just a roof over their heads. Just because they're in the building doesn't mean that they're safe." 'Supportive housing works' B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon offered his condolences to the family after CBC contacted the ministry about Chandler's case and the deaths at Foxglove. He suggested recent changes to the province's residential tenancy regulations will ensure greater safety for residents by allowing supportive care staff to perform wellness checks by entering suites without permission. But he also said the complex nature of problems that land people in buildings like the Foxglove means they will often be more vulnerable to ignoring rules and dying behind closed doors. "Supportive housing works, it's not a question of whether it works or not," Kahlon said. "The challenge for us is that with toxic drug supply, with mental health, with addiction, the need for people to use continues to be there. The challenge is not whether it's the housing or not, the challenge is the mental illness and addiction that we're all trying to grapple with." Eby was housing minister when he celebrated the Foxglove's opening alongside McCallum and Surrey Centre Liberal MP Randeep Sarai, announcing $5 million in federal funding, $25 million from the province and an annual operating cost of $3.2 million. "Foxglove is one of the first complex-care sites to open as part of the province's first-of-its-kind housing program," said a news release at the time, detailing a partnership between RainCity, B.C. Housing and Fraser Health to provide enhanced support and counselling. In addition to nurses, social workers and peer workers, the building's 100 homes and 30 emergency shelter spaces offer overdose prevention services, cooking and meal supports, psychiatric care and recovery coaching. 'Might be some media interest ' According to the documents obtained by CBC, the Foxglove's first overdose death occurred a little more than three weeks later — on May 17, 2022. The next death occurred around 12 a.m. on May 27. After the second death, a B.C. Housing employee sent colleagues a copy of a critical incident report, warning there "might be some media interest due to the newness of the building, complex care association and the other Foxglove OD a couple of weeks ago." But the questions never came. The documents returned to CBC through freedom of information don't include reports for 2023, although a separate FOI issued to a private individual earlier this year indicates that there were three suspected overdose deaths that year. As 2024 began, the FOI documents say separate overdose deaths occurred at the Foxglove on March 23 and 24. Less than a month later, on April 20th, 2024, Chandler was last seen alive — according to a coroner's report — "by way of CCTV cameras at the housing complex." 'I was also really scared' Carley Gibbs says she was "excited" to learn her mother had found a permanent home at the Foxglove after leaving another shelter where she felt unsafe. She visited Chandler in her room, which was papered with the colouring books she loved to fill. Her mother seemed happy, but Carley had misgivings. She says she saw signs of open drug use everywhere. Fighting back tears, Carley told CBC she had often tried to talk to her mother about going into rehab, but "she didn't think she had a problem, so I had to be happy for her." "But I was also really scared that I would lose her," she said. "Because I knew that the facility she was going into was completely surrounded by other people who were in a similar situation. And I was really scared that being around all those people would create a toxic environment. That part did really worry me." 'The family is quite upset' After Chandler was caught on camera on April 20, B.C. Housing documents say Foxglove staff "signed off on visually seeing" her on two more occasions — April 26 and April 28 — "when, in fact, it was someone who looked similar." "Staff did a room check on the deceased's suite May 1," a description of the incident reads. "Staff knocked and entered the tenant's room because there was no answer. The client was found deceased." The documents say staff followed up with a wellness check on the woman whom they had mistaken for Chandler — she was also discovered deceased, another apparent overdose. The coroner's report says that when Chandler's body was finally discovered, she was sitting in a chair. There was no sign of foul play, and drug pipes were discovered nearby. "The family is quite upset and may escalate the situation, including potential media," the B.C. Housing documents say. "There has been an issue with casual staff who are less familiar with the residents' names and faces. They have been instructed not to sign off on wellness checks unless they are certain of a person's identity." 'We did not take this oversight lightly' Tyler Gibbs says his uncle told him Chandler died after he was contacted by RCMP. But the 33-year-old says the family was initially led to believe she died close to the day her body was found on May 1, 2024. They didn't learn about the delay in finding Chandler's body until she was cremated, when they were told the coroner believed Chandler had died on April 20 — 11 days earlier. Gibbs says he asked Foxglove for an explanation. He shared the response from Foxglove program manager Charles Jones. "I will be candid with you about an unfortunate oversight on our part. A staff member was mistakenly identifying Diane as another resident, which led to her being incorrectly marked off as seen on our safety checklist," Jones wrote. "We did not take this oversight lightly and feel deeply ashamed. We are committed to the safety and dignity of all our residents and sincerely regret that this situation occurred. Please accept our heartfelt apology for the oversight and any distress or uncertainty it has caused." 'There are people in there who matter' A year after Chandler's death, both children say they are still struggling with grief, compounded by the outstanding questions over accountability. "It was heartbreaking to go through that. Whether that's a mother or father or any family member, losing someone to a drug overdose, it hurts. It sucks. And hearing that they could have been better at preventing it, hearing more details about it," said Tyler Gibbs "Hopefully, they'll learn from this." Carley Gibbs says it's important for her to make Chandler's "life and voice known. She tried her best." "There are people in there who matter. They came from somewhere," she said. "They need to feel supported — and without that, they just don't know what to do, which is a really scary place to be in." The last time Carley Gibbs saw her mother alive was a few months earlier for a birthday celebration at Troll's in Horseshoe Bay, a cherished place where Chandler went with her family as a kid. "It was just such an honest experience," Gibbs said.
