Portsmouth protest against Aquind interconnector is postponed because of lockdown - but fight continues
A SECOND protest against proposals for a controversial interconnector has been delayed because of the new national lockdown – but campaigners say they will not let up in their fight.
In October, the grassroots movement Let’s Stop Aquind staged a protest along the Eastney shoreline, against Aquind’s plans to run undersea cables connecting the electricity grids of England and France through the area.
The £1.2bn project would see the cables run through Eastney, Milton, Farlington and Waterlooville, en route to the substation in Lovedean.
The next protest, which was due to take place on Thursday, November 5, would have seen residents along the route shining torches along the ground, lighting up the affected area on Bonfire Night.
Spokeswoman for Let’s Stop Aquind, Viola Langley, said: ‘The Aquind Interconnector is a hugely damaging project which threatens the environment across our region, which very few people are aware of.
‘The aim of this safe and socially distanced protest is simple – to shine a light on Aquind, their plans and the implications for the precious natural environment in one of the most densely populated cities in Europe. We don’t need this project or the environmental damage, pollution, traffic chaos and eyesore industrial buildings it will bring to Portsmouth and the South Downs.’
It is feared the interconnector project would destroy beauty spots such as Milton Common, as well as harming nearby wildlife.
Residents in the Locksway Road and Moorings Way area of Milton have come out strongly against the plans.
The Let’s Stop Aquind group page on Facebook, which at the time of publication has more than 1,400 members.
Viola added: ‘This is not just about allotment holders in Eastney, the wildlife in Langstone Harbour or access to Farlington Playing Fields, although all of these are affected; it is about people all along the route putting Aquind under the spotlight and showing solidarity against the plans.
‘We’re fighting a billion pound business and the complexities of the infrastructure planning process with nothing more than a Facebook group – we need more people to be aware of this and get involved before it is too late.’
Aquind’s proposals, which are currently being examined by the Planning Inspectorate, have been branded as ‘draconian’ after the company moved to get access rights along the underground route to Lovedean.