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Police face fuel demo questions Police face fuel demo questions
(about 17 hours later)
Welsh Conservatives have written to the chief constable of South Wales Police over the way a fuel protest by hauliers was handled. Conservatives have written to south Wales' chief constable over the way a hauliers' fuel protest was handled.
A convoy of more than a 150 lorries travelled from west Wales to Cardiff on Tuesday. More than 150 lorries travelled from west Wales on Tuesday, but the Tories are questioning why they did not hand over a petition in Cardiff Bay.
The Tories' assembly leader Nick Bourne is questioning why protesters did not hand over a petition in Cardiff Bay. However, police said the hauliers rejected an offer for a limited number of lorries to drive to the home of the Welsh assembly, the Senedd.
However, police said the hauliers rejected an offer for a limited number of lorries to drive to the Senedd. Instead, the petition was handed to Tory AMs on the outskirts of the city.
Instead, a petition was handed to Mr Bourne and fellow Tory AM Andrew RT Davies at a motorway services on the outskirts of Cardiff. Welsh Tory leader Nick Bourne said that raised concerns.
Mr Bourne said that raised concerns.
"The situation that arose on Tuesday raises questions about the democratic rights of people in Wales and their legitimate expectation to be able to present petitions at the National Assembly," he said."The situation that arose on Tuesday raises questions about the democratic rights of people in Wales and their legitimate expectation to be able to present petitions at the National Assembly," he said.
We did not inform the protestors at the last minute that they could not take their trucks to Cardiff Bay Assistant Chief Constable Dave Morris, We did not inform the protestors at the last minute that they could not take their trucks to Cardiff Bay South Wales Police assistant chief constable Dave Morris
"If the electorate feels so strongly about an issue that they want to present a written document to AMs, then it is important we give them the chance to do that.""If the electorate feels so strongly about an issue that they want to present a written document to AMs, then it is important we give them the chance to do that."
However, South Wales Police has strongly defended its actions. However, South Wales Police strongly defended their actions.
FacilitateFacilitate
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Morris said: "I would like to make it clear that at no time did South Wales Police aim to prevent the protestors from submitting their petition to the Senedd last Monday. Assistant chief constable Dave Morris said that "at no time did South Wales Police aim to prevent the protestors from submitting their petition to the Senedd".
"However, whilst we were prepared to facilitate the protest, we have a responsibility to ensure that disruption to the general public and other road users is kept to an absolute minimum."However, whilst we were prepared to facilitate the protest, we have a responsibility to ensure that disruption to the general public and other road users is kept to an absolute minimum.
"For that reason, it was agreed three days before the protest that five lorries would be permitted to travel to the Senedd to make the presentation.""For that reason, it was agreed three days before the protest that five lorries would be permitted to travel to the Senedd to make the presentation."
But ACC Morris said the hauliers then requested that the convoy met at the M4 motorway services, which he said his officers facilitated. But Nr Morris said the hauliers then requested that the convoy met at the M4 motorway services, which he said his officers facilitated.
However, Mr Bourne said following the protest he had now contacted the assembly's Presiding Officer, Lord Elis Thomas, to request details of guidelines surrounding access to the assembly for protesters and petitioners. However, Mr Bourne said following the protest he had now contacted assembly Presiding Officer Lord Elis Thomas to request details of guidelines surrounding access to the assembly for protesters and petitioners.