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M25 Dartford Crossing closed for second day as protest continues M25 Dartford Crossing closed for second day as protest continues
(about 2 hours later)
Morgan Trowland climbed the QEII bridge early on Monday morning and he was still there on Tuesday, having strung a hammock on the cablesMorgan Trowland climbed the QEII bridge early on Monday morning and he was still there on Tuesday, having strung a hammock on the cables
The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge remains closed for a second day as a protest continues to disrupt M25 traffic.The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge remains closed for a second day as a protest continues to disrupt M25 traffic.
Police received reports of Just Stop Oil supporters scaling the bridge's masts at the Dartford Crossing at 03:50 BST on Monday.Police received reports of Just Stop Oil supporters scaling the bridge's masts at the Dartford Crossing at 03:50 BST on Monday.
National Highways said there was about six miles (10km) of slow-moving traffic and 60 minutes of delays both ways. National Highways said there had been six miles (10km) of slow-moving traffic and 60 minutes of delays both ways.
Just Stop Oil said the action was in protest against new government oil and gas licences.Just Stop Oil said the action was in protest against new government oil and gas licences.
Aerial footage shows protesters suspended from the bridge and long queues of traffic
Aerial footage shows protesters suspended from the bridge and long queues of traffic
The 1.7mile (2.8km) bridge takes traffic southbound over the River Thames on the A282, which connects the M25 London Orbital Motorway from Essex to Kent.The 1.7mile (2.8km) bridge takes traffic southbound over the River Thames on the A282, which connects the M25 London Orbital Motorway from Essex to Kent.
A police presence remained at the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which carries the A282 over the River Thames, connecting the M25 between Essex and Kent
All southbound traffic was being diverted through the East Bore of the Dartford Tunnel, National Highways said, leaving only the West Bore available to traffic heading north under the river.All southbound traffic was being diverted through the East Bore of the Dartford Tunnel, National Highways said, leaving only the West Bore available to traffic heading north under the river.
Ch Supt Simon Anslow from Essex Police said: "We understand how frustrating this situation is for people wanting to use the bridge and go about their business. Ch Supt Simon Anslow, from Essex Police, said: "We understand how frustrating this situation is for people wanting to use the bridge and go about their business.
"Let me assure you we are doing all we can to resolve this situation quickly and safely.""Let me assure you we are doing all we can to resolve this situation quickly and safely."
He said it was not simple to resolve due to the height the two men protesting had reached on the bridge - about 430ft (130m) above the water and 180ft (55m) above the road surface. A police presence remained at the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which carries the A282 over the River Thames, connecting the M25 between Essex and Kent
Traffic queues were forming and people were advised to avoid the area, National Highways said Ch Supt Anslow said it was not simple to resolve due to the height the two protesters had reached - about 430ft (130m) above the water and 180ft (55m) above the road surface.
National Highways had made an assessment and it was "not currently safe to reopen the road", said Ch Supt Anslow. He told BBC Essex that officers tried to negotiate with the protesters yesterday using loudhailers, but that "communication was very difficult because of the wind and the distance."
"We will take action against anyone who puts life in danger or thinks they can selfishly stop others getting to and from work or just going about their daily lives," he said. He said "we do have officers who are trained to work at heights" and that the force was "exploring" the option of climbing up the masts.
"Our priority is to keep people safe and keep Essex moving. Full powers being used over oil protests - police
"The best way would be for the protesters to decide they'd like to come down - they've made their point and they're able to come down so the roads can start moving and the impact of such a major road being closed can start to reduce." Women deny damaging frame of Van Gogh's Sunflowers
He confirmed officers were engaging with the two men "to see what their intentions are and how long they can stay there". New UK oil and gas licences defy climate warnings
"The weather may change towards the end of the day and overnight, and what that will that mean for them?" "The best way to resolve it would be for our protesters to decide that they'd like to come down, they've made their point, and they're able to come down so the roads can start moving," said Ch Supt Anslow.
Just Stop Oil said: "Our political system is betraying the people of this country. More fossil fuel licences means global genocide" "The weather may change towards the end of the day and overnight, and what will that mean for them?"
Just Stop Oil said one of the protesters, Morgan Trowland, was a 39-year-old bridge design engineer from London, while they referred to the other as just "Marcus" and described him as a "teacher from London". He said that National Highways thought it was "not currently safe to reopen the road".
Mr Trowland said on Twitter they had "survived the night", and he was left cold, did not sleep much, but was "OK". Morgan Trowland, a Just Stop Oil supporter who is on the bridge, said he was going to "occupy this for as long as we can"
"We demand that the government stops all new licensing and consent for oil and gas extractions," he told the BBC. Essex Police said officers were trying to communicate with the protesters using loudhailers
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said the two men would remain on the masts "until they're brought down".
One of them, Morgan Trowland, who is described as a 39-year-old bridge design engineer from London, said on Twitter he was cold but had "survived the night".
"We demand that the government stops all new licensing and consent for oil and gas extractions," he told BBC Kent.
"We're not going to get out of this emergency unless we take acts of civil resistance.""We're not going to get out of this emergency unless we take acts of civil resistance."
'As long as we can' Roads at the Essex end of the crossing in Thurrock were heavily congested on Tuesday
He said he was "comfortable" with the risk and "there's a greater risk at watching the whole world burn in the rest of my lifetime". Mr Trowland added: "We're disrupting the economy and the government can't tolerate the country being disrupted.
"We have to take these really desperate, dangerous acts because they're the only things we have left," he said.
"We're disrupting the economy and the government can't tolerate the country being disrupted.
"We're going to occupy this for as long as we can.""We're going to occupy this for as long as we can."
He said the police were in control of the bridge and the group had not blocked any roads.He said the police were in control of the bridge and the group had not blocked any roads.
Roads at the Essex end of the crossing in Thurrock were heavily congested on Tuesday Essex Police said the two people were "currently at height"
A missed funeral and football cancellations
Harry Rogers, from Cocking, West Sussex, told the BBC that he was one hour and 40 minutes and missed his cousin's funeral because of the closure.
He said he had managed to have a soft drink at the wake, held at a pub in Upminster, east London, before driving back home.
Karina Poole, from Thurrock, Essex, said she was an hour late for work because she had to walk the 30-minute journey to her local railway station.
"These demonstrators have put my personal safety at risk," she said. "Not all of us can afford to use taxis, especially in today's economic climate."
Maxine Hendy, an ecologist from Dartford in Kent, sympathises with the protesters despite her 45-minute commute to Harlow in Essex taking three hours.
She said: "There is nothing more pressing and concerning to me than the climate crisis and I do admire the bravery of the two protestors. They need to draw attention to the issue and this certainly attracts attention, good or bad."
Several Isthmian League football fixtures have been postponed with club website citing "ongoing issues" for the teams and fans travelling from Essex to Kent and Sussex.
They included Lewes v Aveley, Herne Bay v Billericay and Bognor Regis Town v Bowers & Pitsea.
In a statement the government said: "While we respect the right to protest, people's day-to-day lives should not be disrupted, and criminal activity will not be tolerated.In a statement the government said: "While we respect the right to protest, people's day-to-day lives should not be disrupted, and criminal activity will not be tolerated.
"We remain fully committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and the UK is forging ahead of many other countries on net zero - with 40% of our power now coming from cleaner and cheaper renewable sources.""We remain fully committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and the UK is forging ahead of many other countries on net zero - with 40% of our power now coming from cleaner and cheaper renewable sources."
Full powers being used over oil protests - police A video has appeared on social media platforms showing fireworks being fired in the direction of the protesters.
Women deny damaging frame of Van Gogh's Sunflowers A statement from Kent Police said: "Kent Police is aware of a video circulating online which appears to show fireworks being set off in Greenhithe near to the QEII bridge, Dartford.
New UK oil and gas licences defy climate warnings "Officers are making inquiries to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the video and to identify any offences which may have been committed."
Some motorists on social media have called for the southbound carriageway to reopen a reduced number of lanes, with one saying it was "beyond a joke now". Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police arrested 26 Just Stop Oil activists blocking Talgarth Road near Barons Court Tube station in central London on Tuesday morning.
Karina Poole, from Thurrock, Essex, said roads in their area on Monday night were at "total gridlock". The activists sat down on the road with banners at 07:30 and glued themselves to the Tarmac and each other.
"I couldn't even get out of our estate."
She said she had to park her car at home and walk for half an hour to and from the railway station, crossed a "major roundabout", and was an hour late for work.
"These demonstrators have put my personal safety at risk," she said.
"Not all of us can afford to use taxis especially in today's economic climate."
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