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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
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| M25 Dartford Crossing closed as protesters climb bridge | M25 Dartford Crossing closed as protesters climb bridge |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Just Stop Oil said protesters had scaled the suspension bridge via its cables | Just Stop Oil said protesters had scaled the suspension bridge via its cables |
| The climate change campaign group Just Stop Oil says it expects its two supporters to remain on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge for 24 hours. | The climate change campaign group Just Stop Oil says it expects its two supporters to remain on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge for 24 hours. |
| Police received reports of protesters scaling the bridge's masts at the Dartford Crossing at 03:50 BST. | Police received reports of protesters scaling the bridge's masts at the Dartford Crossing at 03:50 BST. |
| Diversions for traffic using the M25 east of London were put in place via the Dartford Tunnel. | Diversions for traffic using the M25 east of London were put in place via the Dartford Tunnel. |
| Just Stop Oil said it was part of a protest against new government oil and gas licences. | Just Stop Oil said it was part of a protest against new government oil and gas licences. |
| The 1.7-mile (2.8km) bridge takes traffic southbound on the A282, which connects the M25 London Orbital Motorway from Essex to Kent. The Dartford Tunnel usually carries traffic northbound. | The 1.7-mile (2.8km) bridge takes traffic southbound on the A282, which connects the M25 London Orbital Motorway from Essex to Kent. The Dartford Tunnel usually carries traffic northbound. |
| Essex Police's Chief Constable, Ben-Julian Harrington, said: "It is a really dangerous and difficult environment. | Essex Police's Chief Constable, Ben-Julian Harrington, said: "It is a really dangerous and difficult environment. |
| "I think they're crazy. I'm really frustrated." | "I think they're crazy. I'm really frustrated." |
| The force said the incident could take "some time to resolve due to the complexities of safely getting people down from height". | The force said the incident could take "some time to resolve due to the complexities of safely getting people down from height". |
| "We expect the bridge to remain closed this evening and into tomorrow morning's rush hour," police said on Monday night, advising motorists to use an alternative route if possible. | "We expect the bridge to remain closed this evening and into tomorrow morning's rush hour," police said on Monday night, advising motorists to use an alternative route if possible. |
| Earlier, National Highways East said on Twitter there were "delays of two hours in both directions, with eight miles of congestion anti-clockwise and seven miles of congestion clockwise". | Earlier, National Highways East said on Twitter there were "delays of two hours in both directions, with eight miles of congestion anti-clockwise and seven miles of congestion clockwise". |
| The A282 at the QE2 Bridge was closed for safety reasons | The A282 at the QE2 Bridge was closed for safety reasons |
| Just Stop Oil said the two supporters ascended the two 84m (275ft) masts at the northern end of the bridge. | Just Stop Oil said the two supporters ascended the two 84m (275ft) masts at the northern end of the bridge. |
| A group spokesperson said it was protesting against new government oil and gas licences and that "it is expected that the bridge will remain shut for at least 24 hours". | A group spokesperson said it was protesting against new government oil and gas licences and that "it is expected that the bridge will remain shut for at least 24 hours". |
| The group said one of the pair, Morgan Trowland, was a 39-year-old bridge design engineer from London. | The group said one of the pair, Morgan Trowland, was a 39-year-old bridge design engineer from London. |
| Mr Trowland said: "Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production - killing human life and destroying our environment. | Mr Trowland said: "Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production - killing human life and destroying our environment. |
| "I can't challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I'm taking direct action." | "I can't challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I'm taking direct action." |
| Just Stop Oil said: "Our political system is betraying the people of this country. More fossil fuel licenses means global genocide" | Just Stop Oil said: "Our political system is betraying the people of this country. More fossil fuel licenses means global genocide" |
| Southbound traffic was being diverted via the Dartford Tunnel, which normally only takes traffic travelling north on the M25 | Southbound traffic was being diverted via the Dartford Tunnel, which normally only takes traffic travelling north on the M25 |
| Essex Police said the two people were "currently at height" | Essex Police said the two people were "currently at height" |
| Nationals Highways said there were delays of two hours travelling northbound and southbound | Nationals Highways said there were delays of two hours travelling northbound and southbound |
| The Conservative MP for Dartford in Kent, Gareth Johnson, said it was "wrong" for the activists to "impose their views" on people trying to get to work and school. | The Conservative MP for Dartford in Kent, Gareth Johnson, said it was "wrong" for the activists to "impose their views" on people trying to get to work and school. |
| "I totally deplore this action which is yet again causing traffic misery to people in and around Dartford," he said. | "I totally deplore this action which is yet again causing traffic misery to people in and around Dartford," he said. |
| "It is yet another example of how utterly selfish these protesters are." | "It is yet another example of how utterly selfish these protesters are." |
| Pictures showed the two demonstrators had unfurled a pink Just Stop Oil banner. | Pictures showed the two demonstrators had unfurled a pink Just Stop Oil banner. |
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| Rob Hollyman, director of Youngs Transport Ltd in Purfleet on the north bank of the river, told BBC Essex: "It's absolutely dreadful. It's costing us hundreds of thousands of pounds. | Rob Hollyman, director of Youngs Transport Ltd in Purfleet on the north bank of the river, told BBC Essex: "It's absolutely dreadful. It's costing us hundreds of thousands of pounds. |
| "I'm sitting in a traffic jam instead of being at work running the business." | "I'm sitting in a traffic jam instead of being at work running the business." |
| The group said more than 450 of its supporters have been arrested during the last two weeks of action. | The group said more than 450 of its supporters have been arrested during the last two weeks of action. |
| Protesters were dragged away by members of the public in Shoreditch, east London, on Sunday | Protesters were dragged away by members of the public in Shoreditch, east London, on Sunday |
| Just Stop Oil says more than 450 of its supporters have been arrested over the last two weeks at various sites, including outside Buckingham Palace | Just Stop Oil says more than 450 of its supporters have been arrested over the last two weeks at various sites, including outside Buckingham Palace |
| More than 20 people were arrested on Sunday after some activists glued themselves to the road in Shoreditch High Street in east London. | More than 20 people were arrested on Sunday after some activists glued themselves to the road in Shoreditch High Street in east London. |
| The High Court issued an interim injunction last year to deter environmental activists from staging demonstrations on the M25. | The High Court issued an interim injunction last year to deter environmental activists from staging demonstrations on the M25. |
| Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman has described the actions of demonstrators as "self-defeating" and "completely indefensible". | Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman has described the actions of demonstrators as "self-defeating" and "completely indefensible". |
| How has the Dartford Crossing closure affected you today? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How has the Dartford Crossing closure affected you today? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Dartford | Dartford |
| M25 motorway | M25 motorway |
| West Thurrock | West Thurrock |
| Climate change | Climate change |
| Environment | Environment |
| Just Stop Oil | Just Stop Oil |
| Purfleet | Purfleet |
| Oil & Gas industry | Oil & Gas industry |