Stop AQUIND

THE FIGHT TO STOP AQUIND CONTINUES

Very rarely, if ever, does an issue unite people of all political persuasions, local and national politicians, and residents of all nationalities, religious beliefs, and social standings.

Aquind Interconnector is such an issue. Objections to it bound a passionate group of people together, committed to defending their city and its environs against the destructive unnecessary proposal. MPs and Councillors were unanimous in their criticism. Residents along the route are united.

BREAKING NEWS

RESPONDING TO THE VISIT OF PORTSMOUTH MPS STEPHEN MORGAN AND AMANDA MARTIN TO MINISTER FOR THE ARMED FORCES LUKE POLLARD

Portsmouth, Hampshire – 12th March 2025

Let’s Stop Aquind was pleased that both Portsmouth’s MPs discussed the case against the Aquind Interconnector at their recent meeting with Defence Minister Luke Pollard. We embrace the views expressed by both our MPs, as they highlighted the national security risks posed by the project, alongside longstanding questions over the funding and ownership of Aquind Limited.

Read the full press release HERE.

You can read about this on The News website.

LET’S STOP AQUIND’S RESPONSE TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE’S OBJECTIONS TO THE AQUIND INTERCONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED ISSUES

Portsmouth, Hampshire – 18th February 2025

Stop Aquind has submitted to the Secretary of Energy and Net Zero a response to the Ministry of Defence’s objections to the Aquind Interconnector and associated issues. You can read the detailed submission either on our NEWS page or the submitted PDF HERE.

 

MOD OBJECTION MIGHT SPELL THE END OF AQUIND INTERCONNECTOR?

Portsmouth, Hampshire – 29th August 2024

Recently the details of the previously announced Ministry of Defence objection to the Aquind Interconnector project have been made available and shine a light on what areas of the project raised concerns and why. You can read the full detail of the objection online on the Planning Inspectorate website via the link below:

Ministry of Defence Objection Document (PDF)

It is worth reading the full document for the context for the objections but below is a copy (as of publishing this post) of the objection details (shown in italics):

Position of the MOD

  1. The reasons why the Proposed Development is a cause of significant concern for the MOD and why MOD considers development consent should be refused necessarily involve information regarding UK defence and national security which it would be contrary to the national interest to disclose. They are therefore set out in CLOSED submissions in accordance with the procedure set out by SoS ESNZ in the letter of 12 July 2024.
  2. What can be said in these submissions is that the Proposed Development would unacceptably impede and compromise the safe and effective use of a key defence asset, HMNB Portsmouth, and RN operations in the area of HMNB Portsmouth and the English Channel, including unacceptably limiting military training. This represents a clear risk to UK defence and national security.
  3. The MOD also relies on the letter, dated 22 August 2024, of Captain Lee McLocklan RN, Captain of the Base (Portsmouth) and Deputy Naval Base Commander of HMNB Portsmouth, who confirms that in his view, based on his many years of professional experience, the Proposed Development would clearly and unacceptably impede and compromise the safe and effective use of HMNB Portsmouth, and the necessary military training required for its safe and effective use.
  4. Whilst the MOD accepts that the applicant has made offers to permit MOD oversight of the Proposed Development in its email of 12 April 2024, the MOD does not consider that these would sufficiently mitigate MOD’s concerns. The MOD does not consider any other sufficient or appropriate mitigation to be available.
  5. Development consent for the Proposed Development should therefore be refused.

The letter mentioned in point 22 is included in the objection document.

Could this finally be the end of the Aquind Interconnector?

 

LET’S STOP AQUIND REFUTES AQUIND’S GROSSLY MISLEADING CLAIMS ABOUT PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ITS UNWANTED INTERCONNECTOR PROJECT

Portsmouth, Hampshire – 10th July 2024

With regulators on both sides of the English Channel1 minded to reject the Aquind Interconnector2 and the Ministry of Defence preparing to submit evidence of its “significant national security concerns” around the project3, Aquind Limited yesterday made grossly misleading claims about the level of public support for the Aquind Interconnector in Portsmouth.

These claims are being rejected in the strongest possible terms by grassroots community group Let’s Stop Aquind (LSA), which has campaigned for nearly 4 years to stop the damage that the Aquind Interconnector would cause to the environment and economy of Portsmouth and the South Downs, and the health of the residents in the affected area.

Aquind yesterday published the results of a survey carried out by market research business Savanta under the headline “Portsmouth Voices Strong Support for Aquind’s Interconnector Link”4, and its spokesperson went onto claim that the community was “supportive of progressive energy solutions like AQUIND Interconnector”. Both of these claims are grossly misleading!

You can read in full this highly detailed response and packed with references HERE.

Pandora's Box - The Aquind Interconnector and Contaminated Land

This video is a deep dive in to the issues surrounding the proposed Aquind Interconnector project and the legacy of contaminated land in Portsmouth. The proposed route for deep trench digging will be past or through some locations that are well documented to contain heavy metals, asbestos and more contaminants.

A full list of sources and references are located at the end of the film. At time of publishing, all effort was made to use the most up to date and accurate public information in the writing and creation of this video, and to reference all copyrighted material used/shown as fair dealing for criticism, review or quotation and for the purpose of reporting current events.

What Is the Problem?

Aquind’s proposal is to install cables, designed to carry 2 million watts of electricity, under Eastney beach and to dig trenches and drill tunnels from the landing-place, South to North, to connect the cables to The National Grid at Lovedean. Electricity generated in Europe could flow to the UK and vice versa. The construction of this project would mean many months of disruption and untold damage to the fabric of the city and along the route. Toxic material long-buried safely in landfill sites might be unearthed, further harming the environment in a city already suffering severe congestion.

Traffic chaos, causing much pollution, would negatively affect the people who live in, and those who would want to visit, Portsmouth. Let us not forget Portsmouth is the 2nd most densely populated city outside London.

The project is being imposed upon the city and South Hampshire by the Government. It was rejected by Portsmouth City Council and the various County and Parish Councils along the route when first proposed by the developer, Aquind. Following the local rejection, Aquind took their case to the Government Department dealing with energy supply (BEIS). They wanted the project to be given NSIP(Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project) status and then to apply for a DCO( Development Consent Order) thus removing all decision-making from local to national level.

The then Secretary of State for the Department directed that their request be granted. This was no surprise as he had previously been publicly very supportive of the scheme. This direction effectively took control and any decisions out of the hands of local interests. It allowed the developer to push on with the proposal, following legislation embodied in the Planning Act of 2008. Examination of their application by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) took place this year, its Recommendation went to BEIS in early June and in September a decision will be announced by the current SoS (Secretary of State) at BEIS Kwasi Kwarteng.

Read More About The Issues

You can read more here about the issues around the Aquind Interconnector project:

Latest News

Below are some of our latest news articles, you can read more news HERE.

Press Release: Responding to the Visit of Portsmouth MP’s Stephen Morgan And Amanda Martin to Minister for The Armed Forces Luke Pollard

Portsmouth, Hampshire – 12th March 2024 Let’s Stop Aquind was pleased that both Portsmouth’s MPs discussed the case against the Aquind Interconnector at their recent meeting with Defence Minister Luke Pollard. We embrace the views expressed by both our MPs, as they highlighted the national security risks posed by the project, alongside longstanding questions over …

Let’s Stop Aquind New 2025 Submission to the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero

Portsmouth, Hampshire – 18th February 2025 Let’s Stop Aquind’s response to the Ministry of Defence’s objections to theAquind Interconnector and associated issues You can read the full submission PDF that was sent HERE. The same applies to the letter from Capt Lee McLocklan, Captain of the Base (Portsmouth) and Deputy Naval Base Commander of HMNB …

Stop Aquind Featured in Led By Donkeys Book

The recently released Led By Donkeys book covers their many different protests and activities over the years and as part of that it includes when they visited Portsmouth and worked with Stop Aquind. You can get the book at physical and online bookstores and if you visit HERE there are some discounts on the Led …

Press Releases from Stop Aquind

Press Release: Responding to the Visit of Portsmouth MP’s Stephen Morgan And Amanda Martin to Minister for The Armed Forces Luke Pollard

Portsmouth, Hampshire – 12th March 2024 Let’s Stop Aquind was pleased that both Portsmouth’s MPs discussed the case against the Aquind Interconnector at their recent meeting with Defence Minister Luke Pollard. We embrace the views expressed by both our MPs, as they highlighted the national security risks posed by the project, alongside longstanding questions over …

Let’s Stop Aquind New 2025 Submission to the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero

Portsmouth, Hampshire – 18th February 2025 Let’s Stop Aquind’s response to the Ministry of Defence’s objections to theAquind Interconnector and associated issues You can read the full submission PDF that was sent HERE. The same applies to the letter from Capt Lee McLocklan, Captain of the Base (Portsmouth) and Deputy Naval Base Commander of HMNB …

Press Release: Let’s Stop Aquind Refutes Aquind’s Grossly Misleading Claims About Public Support for Its Unwanted Interconnector Project

Portsmouth, Hampshire – 10th July 2024 With regulators on both sides of the English Channel(1) minded to reject the Aquind Interconnector(2) and the Ministry of Defence preparing to submit evidence of its “significant national security concerns” around the project(3), Aquind Limited yesterday made grossly misleading claims about the level of public support for the Aquind Interconnector in …

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