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Alderney 'power highway' branded biggest threat since WW2

Alderney

Concerns have been raised by islanders in Alderney that a multi-million pound cable link will have 'the biggest impact on the island since the Second World War'.

The FAB electricity project - between France and Britain - will use Alderney as a connection point to pump electricity generated from tidal power across Channel.

A huge tidal power plant will need to be built on Alderney's coast.

It will need an undersea cable link with France and the UK, which would bring cheaper, low carbon energy from continental markets to Britain.

The link will save consumers in the UK a billion pounds on their energy bills

But in Alderney, residents say they are becoming increasingly concerned that the FAB project will change the landscape of the island and worry that it is only Britain and France that will benefit from using Alderney.

Garry Diebel's family has a house near where the project is set to built;

It's the biggest threat to the island since the Second World War and it will have as devastating an effect as that did on this island.

It's a power highway. It won't be bringing any power to the island. It will only bring a lot of disruption and people - there is potential for the island to make money from that - but it will change the island altogether.

– Garry Diebel

There have been fears raised previously that Jewish prisoner of war graves will be damaged when construction gets underway in 2018.

However, in contrast, the States of Alderney has pledged its support for the project.

If it's successful it will give Alderney a secure future. It's also indicative of the type of values the island is trying to promote. It's entrepreneurial, it's innovative.

– Stuart Trought, President, States of Alderney