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AQUIND: Portsmouth MP launches petition to stop ‘disastrous’ infrastructure project alongside campaign group

By 3 July 2021September 6th, 2022No Comments

Stephen Morgan MP has launched a public petition to secure a debate in Parliament to stop the ‘damaging’ AQUIND interconnector project from being approved by government.

The local representative – who has long-opposed the controversial project – has set up the petition alongside the local ‘STOP AQUIND’ campaign, which will be running its ‘Walk the Route’ event today (Sunday 4 July 2021).

Those who wish to join the walk can walk part of or the full 12-mile proposed route of the cable project, starting at 10am at Fort Cumberland.

The MP’s petition, which can be signed by any UK resident, calls on the government to reject the project, citing the huge damage it would do to the local infrastructure and environment, as well as ongoing concerns surrounding the project company and its directors.

The Portsmouth MP is set to present the petition to Parliament in the coming weeks.

The project company has received heavy criticism over its opaque financial structure and previous donations with backers of the project to the Conservatives, disruption to the local environment it could cause and conflicts of interest of the recently appointed chair of the universities regulator, Lord Wharton.

Following its inquiry, during which Mr Morgan voiced the concerns of constituents, the Planning Inspectorate has now made its recommendation to Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The Conservative Minister now has just under three months to make a final decision on whether to approve the project.

Stephen Morgan MP, commented:

“AQUIND would be a disaster for Portsmouth. It would create untold disruption to our City’s roads and natural environment, while bringing no clear benefits.

“Portsmouth residents’ voices deserve to be heard. That’s why I have launched my petition today, urging it to call on the Ministers to reject these damaging proposals.

“I urge all Portsmouth people, to sign my petition to make sure Ministers hear their concerns directly. We can, and we will, stop AQUIND.”

A spokesperson for the ‘Let’s Stop Aquind’ campaign, Viola Langley, also said:

“Our city should not be ripped apart to accommodate this highly damaging project.

“Our energy supply, our cyber security, our environment and our health are threatened.

“We say no to this cronyism, no to private profit, no to threat to our environment, no to threat to our health.”

Forms to sign the petition can be accessed here, which will then need to be printed, signed and sent to his constituency office at 72 Albert Road, Southsea PO5 2SL