Residents write to minister to '˜call-in' IFA2 plans

RESIDENTS have written to the government asking for plans for a controversial £500m electrical power station to be called in due to concerns that the 22m high station will be within 200m of nearby homes.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Jun 2016, 06:00 BST
Martin Marks, chairman of Lee Residents Association, near the site on Daedalus where the IFA2 interconnector could be builtMartin Marks, chairman of Lee Residents Association, near the site on Daedalus where the IFA2 interconnector could be built
Martin Marks, chairman of Lee Residents Association, near the site on Daedalus where the IFA2 interconnector could be built

Lee-on-the-Solent, Hill Head and Peel Commons’ residents’ associations have written to the cabinet minister for local government and communities, Greg Clark MP to have a closer look at the application which was submitted to Fareham Borough Council last month by National Grid.

The three associations are worried that the borough council will act as ‘judge and jury’ on the application as they claim that the council has a financial interest in leasing the land to the National Grid for a premium of £10m.

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Martin Marks, chairman of Lee-on-the-Solent Residents’ Association said: ‘We hope this will provide a better and fairer option for local residents’ voices to be heard and prevent this monstrosity being forced upon us.

What the proposed electricity interconnector at Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent would look likeWhat the proposed electricity interconnector at Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent would look like
What the proposed electricity interconnector at Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent would look like

‘It will be built in a residential area bringing noise levels, potential electrical hazards and health risks.’

Sean Woodward, the council’s executive leader, said the £10m figure was ‘fabricated’.

He added: ‘Every concern that they have raised, I have previously raised myself.

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‘It is premature to expect that Mr Clark would call in an application that had not even been determined by a planning committee.’

What the proposed electricity interconnector at Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent would look likeWhat the proposed electricity interconnector at Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent would look like
What the proposed electricity interconnector at Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent would look like

The groups also have concerns that despite the prospective building being located on land owned by the council, it will have an adverse effect on Gosport residents.

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has written to Amber Rudd, the Secretary of State for Energy, to voice her opposition to the plans.

She added: ‘I think we need an independent fresh set of eyes to look over it. I agree with my constituents that there are a great deal of issues with this project.’

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The prospective energy link will connect the UK to France via 120 miles of sub-sea cables enabling electricity to be imported from and exported to Europe.

The plans came in two applications, one for the building at Daedalus and one for permission for cables at Chilling to connect to the building to the National Grid.

Related topics:ResidentsCaroline DinenageNational GridLee-on-the-Solent