Representation by Polly Beard
- Date submitted
- 11 February 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I would like to register my interest as a resident living close to the proposed interconnector site and raise my objections to the Aquind project on the following grounds. Due to the sheer size of the interconnector station, and in particular the height of the building at 26 metres, located in the middle of open countryside, the impact on the landscape will be extremely significant and damaging. The interconnector site will seen by not just local residents using the footpaths and lanes in the immediate vicinity, but also by anyone further away enjoying views from the South Downs National Park and Portsdown Hill. The screening and proposed planting of trees and hedgerows proposed in the plan is totally inadequate to successfully hide such a huge development. Even after 20 years, when the trees will have reached some maturity, the building will still be very visible. The landscape will also change from a peaceful rural setting to a principally industrial one, and the accumulative effect of the interconnector site next to the Lovedean electricity substation will be both devastating on the nature and use of the area, and irreversible. The proposal therefore is ignoring many of the policies in the East Hampshire District Local Plan for the protection of landscape, and the Local Plan policies of the South Downs National Park. The significant noise pollution of the proposed interconnector site is also a huge concern. Particularly on the footpaths and lanes closest to the site, this will have a significant negative impact and any walkers, horse-riders or cyclists enjoying the area will suffer a loss of amenity. Given the possibility that the station could be an easy target for both vandalism and/or terrorism, the development’s security plans, or lack of them, are totally inadequate for purpose. Many of the roads around the area of Lovedean are not wide enough for two cars, and have poor visibility around bends, and are therefore unsuitable for a significant increase in construction traffic and HGVs. The plan also does not make it clear that under no circumstance should construction traffic use Anmore Lane and Broadway Lane which are restricted to HGVs. The revised plans for the junction of Broadway Lane and Day Lane are not acceptable either and need to be revised. Further afield along the proposed cable route, the development will cause major traffic disruption and resultant exhaust pollution to the surrounding areas. The proposal does not guarantee any benefits to the local community, nor does it include any compensation or benefit scheme to the community affected by it. Finally, the proposed scheme purportedly will lead to lower electricity bills. There are so many external factors that will govern whether this is feasible, including post-Brexit arrangements with the EU that are not even yet known, that it is simply impossible for Aquind to guarantee this. The assumption therefore that it is in the national interest on this basis is invalid.