PLANS for a controversial power plant which will revolutionise electricity generation across Hampshire are set to go before civic chiefs next month after years of debates, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Full plans for the £500m IFA2 Electrical Interconnector at Daedalus Airfield which will direct 1000 megawatts of power between France and Britain goes before Fareham planners on Wednesday, November 15.

It follows tests undertaken by the council and National Grid earlier this month to check whether the cabling interferes with aircraft operations.

The proposed converter site in Fareham would receive electricity from France through undersea cables as direct current. The station would then convert it into alternating current which is used domestically in the UK via the the National Grid.

Stubbington councillor Carolyn Heneghan said: “1,000 residents, who do not want this huge monstrosity, are being overruled by five people on the planning committee.

“The cabling is only one objection to this plan. Others include the location, visual impact, noise impact, beach hut impact during construction, access to the Shack snack bar and disruption to aircraft taxiways during construction.

“Ten acres of prime employment development land has been given up for the sake of approximately 10 jobs.”

Lee West councillor John Beavis said: “The Interconnector in the wrong place, Chilling in Warsash and Fawley Power Station are sites that would be much more suitable. We are very concerned about the risks to public health and the potential noise.”

“The tests appear to prove that there was not an adverse effect on the Aircraft but until the actual cables are in situ we will not have a proper understanding of the impact they will have.”

Bill Hutchinson, chairman of the Hillhead Residents Association, said: “It is a unprecedented situation that such high powers of DC and AC current run right underneath the airfield so National Grid has had to come up with some technical designs to overcome this. The tests undertaken last week were broadly satisfactory but we need to wait for the full converter building to be built to what impact it will have on Radio Frequency Inference (RFI).”.

“However, the Civil Aviation Authority will need to convince before IFA2 begins operating.”

Cllr Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: “I asked for practical tests to be carried out at Daedalus with real cables carrying the full current and real aircraft to pass over them to demonstrate whether there was any adverse effects on aircraft systems. 

“There was not and this information will go to the Planning Committee.” along with all of the other evidence and public comments for consideration.”