Protesters line shoreline in Portsmouth to oppose Aquind cable plans - with some warning they could become 'militant'
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Aquind aims that undersea cables will run ashore in Eastney as part of a £1.2bn project connecting the electricity grids of France and England.
Fears that the project will damage wildlife habitats and hinder access to allotments led to more than 150 people showing their opposition with a static and socially distanced protest along the shoreline today.
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Hide AdAccording to one of the protest’s organisers, Linda Spence, residents were not properly consulted on the plans, which remain unclear.
And the Eastney resident, who helped set up the Facebook page Let’s Stop Aquind, has warned that residents who could become ‘militant’ if their concerns are not addressed.
She said: ‘I don’t know if I will have an allotment after April.
‘I would be devastated if I lost it.
‘Some people have talked about occupying the site. I’m not saying the whole group would do that, but I would be willing to do that.’
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Hide AdMore than 800 people have joined the campaign’s page in just over a week.
A drone flew over the protest to help demonstrate the size of the resistance to the plans, with Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan – who attended the event – saying it was ‘humbling’ to see so many Portsmouth residents demonstrating their opposition.
He said: ‘Portsmouth’s green and open spaces are precious.
‘The developer’s plans do nothing to benefit our city, only cause disruption to our environment and to our daily lives.
‘Together we can, and we will, stop this.’
It comes as The News has revealed that Portsmouth City Council has earmarked £250,000 to fight the scheme.
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Hide AdCouncillor Matthew Winnington, who represents the Eastney & Craneswater ward, is concerned that building work for the scheme will close Fort Cumberland Road, causing ‘huge disruption’ for residents.
Cllr Winnington said: ‘It’s a mess of a scheme, and it seems to have been done with next to no consultation.
‘It makes no sense for the cables to come ashore here – it’s being done purely for convenience for a massive company.’
Conservatives from Portsmouth City Council were also at the protest.
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Hide AdThe Planning Inspectorate is due to hold a public hearing on the project in December.
Drone picture taken by Solent Sky Services