Air Pollution Demo Causes Traffic Disruption In Chiswick

Protesters on Chiswick Roundabout demanding more action from the Mayor

Traffic was disrupted during the morning rush hour on Monday (18 December) when a group of anti-pollution demonstrators blocked Chiswick Roundabout and unfurled banners.

Supporters of the Stop Killing Londoners campaign, some wearing Santa hats and tinsel, were protesting against air pollution in the capital. They were demanding more action from Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Greater London Authority on the issue, timing their protest to coincide with the end of a consultation on air pollution.

Traffic quickly became gridlocked as vehicles were prevented from driving through the demo. Police were called to the scene and asked the demonstrators to move aside. No arrests were made.

Protester Roger Hallam said, "All of our peaceful direct actions are done to bring an end to the 9,000-10,000 Londoners being killed every year due to toxic and unlawful levels of air pollution, and the thousands of others whose lungs are being poisoned and scarred for life. Despite our meeting with Ellie Robinson who works directly with the Mayor and Elliot Traherne, who is one of the leading civil servants advising on matters of air pollution to the Mayor, we still have no assurance that the Mayor takes this emergency seriously enough to meet with us."

Stop Killing Londoners has said it will organise non-violent direct action road blocks across the capital until politicians commit to an 80% reduction in pollutants.

A police spokesperson said, "Police were called at 07:42hrs on Monday, 18 December to reports of demonstrators causing an obstruction at Chiswick Roundabout. Officers attended and the demonstrators were relocated to a safer location."

December 20, 2017