Representation by Martin Farrelly
- Date submitted
- 11 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I disagree with the planned route for the interconnector. The plan is to take the cable corridor through the most densely populated city in the UK, outside of London. Portsmouth is a city that is currently battling with air pollution due to the overpopulated city and the amount of cars that inevitably brings. The heavy machinery required to lay the cable and make the corridor will exacerbate the air pollution, taking it beyond already dangerously high levels. Portsmouth's infrastructure is such that there are only three roads to be able to enter/leave Portsea island. One of the busiest is the Eastern road, which suffers from large delays and congestion during rush hour. It also comes to a complete standstill during Portsmouth Football Club home matches which then causes additional congestion issues on other routes throughout the city. The proposed route will reduce the capacity of this vital route and will make commutes and access to the football ground a nightmare. Anyone driving into Portsmouth from the east will take this route and will struggle to get to the city centre due to the proposed route of the cable corridor. The proposed route will also go along some roads that lead into one-way roads, which will mean that some people, including myself, will be unable to access their homes if these roads are closed. Therefore, I am inclined to oppose the proposal of the route of the cable corridor and ask if there are not more suitable places for the cables to make landfall and reduce the impact on so many people.