Hampshire farm owners fight Aquind bid over land where father's ashes are scattered

The £1.2bn project, still undergoing scrutiny from the Planning Inspectorate, wants landscaping rights for 14,842 square metres of woodland at Stoneacre Copse in Lovedean.

Aquind wants these permissions to manage the ash dieback problem so it can provide screening for its proposed interconnector station at Lovedean.

The station would be the final step in the cross-Channel power cables running from Normandy in France to Eastney in Portsmouth.

But lawyers acting for Geoffrey Carpenter and Peter Carpenter, who own Little Denmead Farm, said Stoneacre Copse has a ‘real and special meaning’ to them as the place of their father’s ashes.

In a submission, Blake Morgan LLP said: ‘It remains important to note that all of the land envisaged to be landscaped, including Stoneacre Copse, is the private property of the (owners), and that the copse has a real and special meaning for the (owners) as the actual last resting place of their father.’

The lawyers for the Carpenters said all compulsory acquisition rights should be binned.

A letter from Blake Morgan said: ‘Compulsory acquisition powers should not be granted based on a simple promise by the applicant that funds might become available at some unknown point in the future.’

The firm said there is ‘a reasonable prospect of funds becoming available’.

As reported, Aquind said funding would become available if it wins development consent order from the secretary of state, following the Planning Inspectorate examination.

The Carpenters, or their lawyers, were due to speak at a public hearing on Aquind.

An Aquind spokesman said it would work to ‘ensure the sensitivities of Stoneacre Copse are observed’.

He said: ‘Aquind is committed to securing the land and rights necessary for the project by way of voluntary agreement with landowners wherever possible.

‘Although it is not appropriate for Aquind to comment on discussions with individual landowners we will of course work with the relevant parties to ensure the sensitivities of Stoneacre Copse are observed.’

READ NEXT: Beloved Portsmouth cavapoo in danger of being put down saved by TV's Supervet

He said ash dieback had ‘spread more rapidly than previously anticipated in woodland close to the proposed converter station site’.

The spokesman added: ‘Aquind is seeking rights to actively manage the areas of woodland at Stoneacre Copse and Mill Copse to mitigate the impact of ash dieback in these locations and help the woodland recover.

‘Aquind is not seeking ownership of this land.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as fewer adverts, access to our digital edition and mobile app.

Our trial offer starts at just £2 a month for the first two months.