Campaigners fight over potential 148 miles of electricity cable under Portsmouth

Watch: report by ITV News Meridian's Chloe Oliver

Some people living in Portsmouth are campaigning over plans for 20km of electricity cables which would be installed across the city. They say it would mean disruption for businesses and residents and closing main roads for months. 

However, the company behind it- Aquind- says it will boost British energy security.

It also says the project will create around 250 jobs during the construction of the UK onshore elements, and a further 250 jobs are expected to be created during the marine installation.

The £1.2 billion project will run from France to England, landing at Eastney in Southsea where it will run across Portsmouth to Lovedean in the South Downs.


Campaigners stood in silent solidarity. Credit: Joe Watson Photography

People in Portsmouth line the proposed route of a high voltage electricity cable that would connect Portsmouth to France. They are stood in silent solidarity.

The interconnector will mean temporary disruption running from Eastney beach along Portsdown Hill, through the centre of Waterlooville, ending at Lovedean's power station.

It's a complex process, and it's not gone down well in the city. 

The 20km route will mean temporary disruption

Hear from campaigners:

A grass roots campaign against the plans was started by Viola, a retired school teacher in Portsmouth. Today they have more than 3,000 members.



We put those concerns to the director of Aquind.

Richard Glasspool, Director- Aquind

Portsmouth City council is so strongly against the project, they've raised nearly a quarter of a million pounds to officially oppose it.

Labour MP Stephen Morgan and former defence secretary and Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt both reject the plans.



The Director of Aquind responded by saying we can't be self-sufficient for the next 20/25 years. "Possibly the only way we can be self-sufficient and meet the net zero carbon target is to build a lot of nuclear power stations."

A decision won't be announced until September Credit: ITV News Meridian

If plans are approved work is likely to begin in 2022.

A decision won't be announced until September.