As you may know our French counterparts Non A Aquind recently visited Portsmouth and the areas along the planned route of the proposed Aquind Interconnector. We may not speak the same language but we and our French counterparts, along with our MPs and councillors, all speak with one voice on the subject of Aquind! United, we strongly oppose the Aquind Interconnector.
Our two city MPs, Hampshire and PCC councillors, Mayors from Normandy, Non a Aquind and Let’s Stop Aquind benefitted from the in-person meetings held on Friday, 31st October 2025 here in Portsmouth. Our friends from Normandy, six years into their fight against the Aquind Interconnector, brought 2 pieces of good news:
– The company’s application for the Maritime concession was refused.
– The Aquind Interconnector has been deemed of no national interest at local and national level in France.
At this point in time it appears the Aquind Interconnector is dead, according to our French partners. However, the French tell us they will remain vigilant as Aquind will not give up easily. Here in England discussions continue between the MOD, the company and the government. There is no time frame for this. We must be ready for the long haul. For longer than 5 years LSA has fought to put an end to this harmful project.
Remember that in 2022 the Aquind Interconnector was refused. That decision was then overturned by the High Court in 2023 because of a legal loophole. The government’s grounds for refusal must now be watertight. The end of this Project is long overdue. There must be no loopholes this time.
Our elected representatives are fully behind us and LSA too needs your continued support. During the French visit we had a meeting with the MPs and a separate meeting with the two council leaders, Steve Pitt, the leader of Portsmouth City Council, and Martin Tod, the leader of Winchester County Council, plus various councillors on the 31.October 2025. Stephen Morgan and Amanda Martin sent us their joined statement after the visit:
“We have long opposed the AQUIND project and continue to do all we can to highlight the case for it to be finally put to bed. We have raised serious national security concerns about the proposed interconnector, alongside the environmental damage, murky financing, and severe disruption it would cause for people in Portsmouth.
We were pleased to meet with our French counterparts and local campaigners today, to hear about developments in France and update them on the work we are doing.“We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Portsmouth residents and campaigners in making the case for AQUIND to be refused once and for all.”
Past Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt:
“I will continue to do all I can to raise concerns about these proposals. Our city was the first to point out the dangers of this scheme. Our worries have now been supported by both French and UK defence and security organisations. Thank you all for your continued efforts to ensure this never comes to pass. You are doing both our city and the nation a huge service.”
Let’s Stop Aquind
