A £430 million electricity interconnector between the UK and Ireland was diverted from its original path after Harry Potter enthusiasts campaigned against the cable disturbing a fictional memorial at a Welsh beach where the character Dobby died in the films.

The Greenlink interconnector project, a major infrastructure investment connecting the National Grid to Ireland via a 125-mile submarine cable, was rerouted following an unexpected public campaign. The cable was originally planned to run directly through Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where scenes depicting the death of house-elf character Dobby were filmed in the Harry Potter movies. Fans of the franchise had created a makeshift memorial at the location.

Project manager Simon Ludlam revealed that the redirection occurred after a BBC News interview about the project sparked widespread public concern. Following the broadcast, his team received hundreds of telephone calls from viewers opposing the original route. Initially dismissive of the concerns, Ludlam said he eventually recognised the seriousness of the situation and worked with local planners to identify an alternative path for the underground cable.

While the diversion successfully protected the fan-created tribute, it required the cable to pass closer to genuine archaeological features. According to Pembrokeshire council planning documents, the original route had already approached Bronze Age remains, including a pottery vessel suggesting human burial dating to approximately 1700-1500 BC. The rerouted cable came even closer to these historical sites, though it appears the archaeological concerns were ultimately managed during the approval process.

This is not the first time the Dobby memorial has required protection. In 2022, the National Trust confirmed the pebble arrangement could remain at the beach following consultation, though the organisation requested visitors refrain from leaving souvenirs, citing environmental sensitivity at the location.