Residents near Daedalus site join forces against IFA2

Lee-on-the-Solent, Peel Common and Hill Head Residents’ Associations, plus Fareham and Gosport borough councillors, have all expressed concern about National Grid’s proposed IFA2 interconnector.

The IFA2 is a £500m project that would see a convertor station built at Daedalus that would be linked to a French base via sub-sea cables and would import and export power.

But fears have been raised from residents in the surrounding area that it would create noise pollution and environmental problems.

Nearby aircraft manufacturer Britten-Normanare is wary the underground cables may affect the way it operates.

Martin Marks, chairman of Lee Residents’ Association, said: ‘When this first started, I contacted the two other associations so we could be stronger together.

‘The trouble is that there are a lot of unknowns heading into the project.

‘The noise pollution is one thing that has to be considered. The initial report said it would be at 30 decibels when it reaches residents, but what if it isn’t?

‘They’re hardly going to pull down the building down once it’s up.

‘There was a housing estate previously proposed where IFA2 is planned to go which Fareham Borough Council did not want there. The fear is they want the revenue.’

Bill Hutchinson, residents’ chair in Hill Head, added: ‘Daedalus is an enterprise zone. It is a bad idea having the interconnector there and there have been over 1,200 objections so far.’

Councillor John Beavis, of Gosport Borough Council, said: ‘Other sites at Chilling and Fawley have not been properly examined. We want an independent call-in from the government.’

But Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, insisted that he wouldn’t allow the project to go ahead until he was satisfied with everything.

He said: ‘I’ve raised all issues and concerns with National Grid. IFA2 has to go through our planning committee and then as landlord I have to be satisfied so residents have double protection in this case.

‘We want to make sure the decision won’t affect the airfield at Daedalus.’