Campaigners protest against electricity link between Portsmouth and France

Campaigners protesting against an electricity link between Portsmouth and France claim the project would be destructive.

The £1.3 billion Aquind Interconnector would allow the UK to import electricity from France or potentially export power when conditions allow.

Let's Stop Aquind campaign group, alongside city councillors and MPs, have been protesting against the interconnector and are sharing their concerns.

Viola Langley, Co-Founder of the campaign group, said: "There are just so many reasons: environmental reasons, national security, destruction during the process.

"Just imagine the traffic and the chaos.

"It's just impossible, and even if it was just for half a year, we cannot function like this.

"It just doesn't make sense.

"The destruction is too big and particularly as we are in a biodiversity, climate change and pollution crisis.

"We just can't afford to be doing this."

In January 2022, the government refused to grant planning consent.

Aquind challenged this decision in the High Court, where the ruling was overturned to refuse the scheme in 2023.

Since then, the Ministry of Defence have previously expressed concerns that the Aquind Interconnector would cause too much disruption around the Naval base.

Aquind has previously said the planned 2GW system could supply up to 5% of the UK's energy needs, reduce prices and secure power supplies.

The Planning Inspectorate have issued a statement.

It said: "The Planning Inspectorate concluded its examination and sent its Recommendation Report to the Secretary of State in June 2021.

"The initial decision was made by the Secretary of State in January 2022.

"As you’ll be aware, that decision was quashed in the High Court and the application is currently being re-determined by the Secretary of State.

"As such, it would be inappropriate to comment on live casework."

Let's Stop Aquind are holding a public meeting on the 31st October at 7pm in the Portsmouth Central Library, Guildhall Square.

They've been protesting since 2022, and say Portsmouth is "too densely populated" for the build of the interconnector .

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