TfL obtains injunction to prevent key junctions being blocked
Insulate Britain protestors blocking a road. Picture: Insultate Britain
Insulate Britain Blocks Hanger Lane Gyratory ChiswickW4.com and EalingToday.co.uk Sign up for email newsletters from FulhamSW6.com, HammersmithToday.co.uk and ShepherdsBushW12.com |
Transport for London has obtained a High Court injunction to make Insulate Britain protests illegal at 14 key junctions around the capital including Chiswick Roundabout and Hammersmith Gyratory.
The injunction was granted on Friday afternoon (8 October) and applies to a number of sites where protests had been held previously including Hanger Lane. Vauxhall Bridge and Blackwall Tunnel, as well as Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Park Lane including Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner, Elephant and Castle including all entry and exit roads, the Victoria one-way system, the A501 ring road from Edgware Road to Old Street, Staples Corner, Redbridge roundabout and the Kidbrooke interchange.
The injunction comes after protesters blocked junctions for the twelfth time in the past four weeks with a protest at Old Street as well as one at junction 25 of the M25. The Metropolitan Police said it arrested 16 people at the motorway protest, and 19 at Old Street roundabout.
A TfL spokesperson said: “The safety of people travelling on the capital’s roads is our number one priority.
“We have been granted an injunction this afternoon by the High Court which bans protesters from engaging in activities that obstruct traffic at 14 locations. This will help to protect London's road network and everybody using it.
“We will continue to work closely with the police and other highway authorities in London to manage the impact on the road network and would encourage people to check their journeys before they travel.”
The move has the backing of London mayor Sadiq Khan. His spokesperson said, “The Mayor passionately believes in the right to protest, but it must always be done peacefully, safely and within the law.
“We are pleased that TfL has been granted an injunction which bans protesters from engaging in activities that obstruct traffic at 14 locations.
“This will help keep London's road network safe and everybody using it.”
Tracey Mallagan, from Insulate Britain said, “If governments don’t act soon to reduce emissions, we face a terrifying situation. We won’t be worrying about shortages of pasta or loo rolls because law and order breaks down pretty quickly when there is not enough food to go round.
“The government won’t be wondering if there are enough hospital beds or ventilators, but whether there are enough people left to bury the dead.”
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October 8, 2021
