This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-63296648
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| M25 Dartford Crossing closed for second day as protest continues | M25 Dartford Crossing closed for second day as protest continues |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Morgan Trowland climbed the QEII bridge early on Monday morning and he was still there on Tuesday, having strung a hammock on the cables | Morgan 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 had been 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 |
| 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. |
| 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." |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| Full powers being used over oil protests - police | Full powers being used over oil protests - police |
| Women deny damaging frame of Van Gogh's Sunflowers | Women deny damaging frame of Van Gogh's Sunflowers |
| New UK oil and gas licences defy climate warnings | New UK oil and gas licences defy climate warnings |
| "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. | "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. |
| "The weather may change towards the end of the day and overnight, and what will that mean for them?" | "The weather may change towards the end of the day and overnight, and what will that mean for them?" |
| He said that National Highways thought it was "not currently safe to reopen the road". | He said that National Highways thought it was "not currently safe to reopen the road". |
| 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" | 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" |
| Essex Police said officers were trying to communicate with the protesters using loudhailers | 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". | 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". | 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 Radio 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." |
| Roads at the Essex end of the crossing in Thurrock were heavily congested on Tuesday | Roads at the Essex end of the crossing in Thurrock were heavily congested on Tuesday |
| Mr Trowland added: "We're disrupting the economy and the government can't tolerate the country being disrupted. | Mr Trowland added: "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. |
| Essex Police said the two people were "currently at height" | Essex Police said the two people were "currently at height" |
| A missed funeral and football cancellations | A missed funeral and football cancellations |
| Harry Rogers, from Cocking, West Sussex, told the BBC that he was one hour and 40 minutes late for 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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." | 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 websites 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. | 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." |
| A video has appeared on social media platforms showing fireworks being fired in the direction of the protesters. | A video has appeared on social media platforms showing fireworks being fired in the direction of the protesters. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "Officers are making inquiries to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the video and to identify any offences which may have been committed." | "Officers are making inquiries to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the video and to identify any offences which may have been committed." |
| Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police arrested 26 Just Stop Oil activists blocking Talgarth Road near Barons Court Tube station in central London on Tuesday morning. | Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police arrested 26 Just Stop Oil activists blocking Talgarth Road near Barons Court Tube station in central London on Tuesday morning. |
| The activists sat down on the road with banners at 07:30 and glued themselves to the Tarmac and each other. | The activists sat down on the road with banners at 07:30 and glued themselves to the Tarmac and each other. |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |
| 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. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: |
| WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 | WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 |
| Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
| Upload your pictures/video here | Upload your pictures/video here |
| Or fill out the form below | Or fill out the form below |
| Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy | Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy |
| If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. |