Just Stop Oil Protestors Slow March on Chiswick High Road |
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Block rush hour traffic near Kew Bridge for nearly 20 minutes
June 14, 2023 There was substantial traffic disruption in the Chiswick area this Wednesday morning (14 June) due to a Just Stop Oil protest on Chiswick High Road. Around a dozen demonstrators started a slow march shortly before 8.03am on the southbound carriage way of the road close to the junction with Wellesley Road. As they proceeded towards Kew Bridge passing the junction with Stile Hall Road they used a megaphone to spread their message as well as handing out leaflets. There was an angry response from some of the motorists stuck on the queues of traffic that reached up to Chiswick Roundabout but some residents shouted support for the demonstrators when arrests were being made. The police say that they imposed Section 12 conditions under the Public Order Act at 8.15am and the road was cleared six minutes later. The imposition of these conditions can be made by the senior officer on the scene if he or she believes it is necessary to prevent disorder, damage, disruption, impact or intimidation. Two of the demonstrators refused to comply with the conditions and were arrested. It is the eighth week of daily action by the Just Stop Oil group who also held a slow march north of Chiswick Roundabout a few days earlier. It is calling on the government to halt all licences and consents for new oil, gas and coal projects. Around 600 people from all over the UK have taken part in the marches of whom 95 have been arrested and 40 charged. 74-year-old Anne Taylor 74, a former teacher from Oxford, who took part in a protest on Tuesday said, “My fourth grandchild was born on 21st May. So gorgeous, so tiny and defenceless. She’s just weeks old now and I will do anything I can to help ensure a liveable future for her. As a former teacher, young people really matter to me. I will absolutely do what I can, non-violently, to try to protect the future of my grandchildren, and all young people all over the world. “This government is breaking the law. We are trying to non-violently uphold the law. “ The Metropolitan Police says that the cost of policing these protests so far has been £4.5 million.
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