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
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- Aquind Interconnector Spat Reignites with Developer Accusing MoD of ‘Unsubstantiated’ Opposition – New Civil Engineer
- Russia-linked Electricity Cable to UK Delayed by ‘National Security Concerns’ – The i Newspaper
- Former minister took energy firm donation despite security concerns – The Telegraph
- Rule-breaking Tory MP takes cash from Russian-owned firm… again – Democracy for Sale
- Aquind interconnector decision delayed after MoD intervenes – BBC News
- Aquind interconnector: Cross-Channel critics highlight recent roadworks – BBC News
- Aquind: Government loses bid to block cross-Channel electricity cable – BBC News
- Anne-Marie Trevelyan ‘risked misleading parliament by omission’ over energy project lobbying – The Times
- Pandora Papers: Businessman linked to Tory donations made millions from alleged fraud – The BBC
- Russian tycoon’s link to alleged corruption in leaked files raises questions for Tory ministers – The Guardian
- Kwasi Kwarteng accused of misleading claims over power cable project – The Guardian
- Embezzlement Allegations Cast Shadow OVER AQUIND ENERGY PROJECT – Byline Times
- Cable tycoon lobbied Brexit negotiator Lord Frost over energy deal – The Times
- Firm Behind Channel Cable Project Owned by Former Soviet Oil Men & Generous Conservative Donor – Byline Times
- Tories take £280k from Russia-linked donors in year since report called for crackdown – The Mirror
- Calls for ministers to ‘come clean’ over links to cross-Channel power cable sponsor – The Guardian
- Questions remain as cross-channel power line decision approaches – Sky News
- FOI Aquind Meeting Minutes with Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – What Do They Know
- Local authority accuses secretive Russian Tory donor’s firm of ‘abusing planning laws’ – Open Democracy
- Energy minister met Russia-linked donor Alexander Temerko despite warnings of ‘trap’ – The Times
- Russian influence in UK under the spotlight – CNN
Latest News
Below are some of our latest news articles, you can read more news HERE.
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 …
Security Issues with Aquind Interconnector Makes The National Press
Questions raised around national security and the Aquind Interconnector by the Ministry of Defence in their recent submitted objection to the project (more details of their concerns were also kept in a secret report) have been discussed in the national press as the story has become public. Two key articles of note that are worth …
Read more “Security Issues with Aquind Interconnector Makes The National Press”
MoD Objection Might Spell the End of Aquind Interconnector?
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 …
Read more “MoD Objection Might Spell the End of Aquind Interconnector?”
Press Releases from Stop Aquind
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 …
Press Release: Let’s Stop Aquind’s Response To The Initial Project Assessment By Ofgem Of The Third Cap And Floor Window For Electricity Interconnectors
Portsmouth, Hampshire – 19th April 2024 Let’s Stop Aquind (LSA), the Portsmouth based local grassroots movement, considers in this document Ofgem’s Initial Project Assessment of the third cap and floor window for electricity interconnectors1 and CRE ‘s public consultation document on the opportunity for new electricity interconnection capacity between France and the United Kingdom, no …
Press Release: Let’s Stop Aquind Releases Open Letter to Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt and Grant Shapps: “IT’S TIME TO STOP AQUIND”
Portsmouth, Hampshire – Wednesday 1 March 2023 Community pressure group Let’s Stop Aquind has revitalised its long-running campaign against the Aquind Interconnector in response to the recent high court judgement in favour of Aquind Limited, which quashed the government’s original decision not to allow the project. As all parties wait for Secretary of State for …
