Insulate Britain Blocks Wandsworth Bridge
Environmental activists switch their protests to more sites across London
Protestors blocked roads across London this Monday
This Monday morning (4 October) climate change activists blocked Wandsworth Bridge as part of an esclation of their campaign.
It was one of four sites across London which protestors from the Insulate Britain group chose to target with the others being Hanger Lane, Arnos Grove and the Blackwell Tunnel.
54 activists positioned themselves across the roads including some who had been arrested at previous protests.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said, 'Officers are dealing with protestors who have blocked parts of the A2, A3, A12 and A40. While the roads remain open, there is heavy disruption at all four locations with slow moving traffic while work is underway to remove those who have glued themselves onto the road.
'So far, 38 arrests have been made for disruption of the highway and conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
'At approximately 0800hrs, protestors blocked the southern approach of Blackwall Tunnel. By 0809hrs police were on scene. At 0820hrs, protestors moved onto the North Circular Road near Hanger Lane and blocked the road. Officers were on scene by 0828hrs.
'At 0845hrs, protestors obstructed the road at the junction at Lochnagar Street at northern approach of the Blackwall tunnel. Officers were on scene within minutes. At 0846hrs, a number of protestors moved onto Wandsworth Bridge. Officers are on scene by 0900hrs.
'We consider protests of this nature unreasonable and are acting as quickly as possible to minimise disruption caused to members of the public using the roads.'
A spokeswoman for Insulate Britain said, 'We're more scared of what will happen when the climate crisis causes the breakdown of law and order, than we are of injunctions and prison. The Government is focussing on us rather than what's coming down the road. They need to face up to reality.
'If our Government really wants to do something for hard-working families it should act decisively to insulate Britain's homes. It will help people with rising energy bills, prevent 8,500 fuel poverty deaths this winter and cut carbon emissions in the most cost-effective way possible.”
The Prime Minister had said the previous day as the Conservative Party conference began that people blocking roads would be locked up or given unlimited fines but the police have complained that they lack the powers to deal with these protests effectively.
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October 4, 2021