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Protesters raid coal power plant Protesters raid coal power plant
(about 1 hour later)
Greenpeace campaigners have staged a dawn protest at a power plant which could be the site of Britain's first new coal-fired station for 20 years.Greenpeace campaigners have staged a dawn protest at a power plant which could be the site of Britain's first new coal-fired station for 20 years.
Up to 60 activists said they wanted Gordon Brown to reject the proposal for the Kingsnorth site, on the Hoo Peninsula, in Kent. More than 50 activists said they wanted Gordon Brown to reject the proposal for the Kingsnorth site, on the Hoo Peninsula, in Kent.
They also aim to take the plant off the National Grid during Monday's action.They also aim to take the plant off the National Grid during Monday's action.
E.ON UK confirmed there were protesters at the gates and inside the facility, but insisted it was still operational. E.ON UK said protesters had been at the gates with some inside the facility, but insisted it was still operational.
Kent Police said it had sent negotiators to the scene, while roadblocks were also reportedly set up around the site. Kent Police said it sent negotiators to the scene after being called there at about 0600 BST on Monday.
E.ON UK has announced plans to build two new coal units at Kingsnorth, saying they would be cleaner than the current ones with "state-of-the-art technology" reducing carbon emissions. Reduced emissions
A statement said: "It is thought that 23 Greenpeace protesters are currently on power station property and several of them have chained themselves to generators.
"Police have closed surrounding roads and have already moved on 30 people from the outskirts of the site."
E.ON UK announced in October 2006 that it planned to build two new coal units at Kingsnorth, saying they would be cleaner than the current ones with "state-of-the-art technology" reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
There is a team who are scaling the 250m-high (820ft) smoke stack Protester Joss GarmanThere is a team who are scaling the 250m-high (820ft) smoke stack Protester Joss Garman
Greenpeace said more than 13,000 objections had been sent to Medway Council, but "in the next couple of weeks the decision will go to Gordon Brown".Greenpeace said more than 13,000 objections had been sent to Medway Council, but "in the next couple of weeks the decision will go to Gordon Brown".
The climate campaigners said their message to the prime minister was: "Don't bottle it on climate change."The climate campaigners said their message to the prime minister was: "Don't bottle it on climate change."
They scaled fences at the site just after 0500 BST on Monday.They scaled fences at the site just after 0500 BST on Monday.
One protester, 22-year-old Joss Garman from north London, said he and others had climbed up coal conveyors, pressed the emergency stop buttons and chained themselves to the belts.One protester, 22-year-old Joss Garman from north London, said he and others had climbed up coal conveyors, pressed the emergency stop buttons and chained themselves to the belts.
Mr Gorman described the action as a form of "peaceful civil disobedience" which could last for days rather than hours. Mr Garman described the action as a form of "peaceful civil disobedience" which could last for days rather than hours.
"There is another team who are scaling the 250m-high (820ft) smoke stack, and they've got enough supplies to last for a few days," he said."There is another team who are scaling the 250m-high (820ft) smoke stack, and they've got enough supplies to last for a few days," he said.
Efficiency improvements Plans have been submitted for a new, cleaner plant at Kingsnorth
Mr Gorman claimed the new coal units planned for Kingsnorth would do little to reduce carbon emissions. Mr Garman claimed the new coal units planned for Kingsnorth would do little to reduce carbon emissions.
"This power station [currently] wastes over two-thirds of the energy that it produces... although it will be slightly more efficient, this new plant will still lose over half the energy it will create.""This power station [currently] wastes over two-thirds of the energy that it produces... although it will be slightly more efficient, this new plant will still lose over half the energy it will create."
He added that protesters hoped to have taken the power station off the National Grid later on Monday, but claimed there would be no blackouts as a result.He added that protesters hoped to have taken the power station off the National Grid later on Monday, but claimed there would be no blackouts as a result.
A spokeswoman for E.ON UK said: "We have got protesters on site, but operations are not affected and Kingsnorth is still running.A spokeswoman for E.ON UK said: "We have got protesters on site, but operations are not affected and Kingsnorth is still running.
"There are some in the power station, but just because they're inside that doesn't mean we have to shut down as they are not in the right part of the plant to affect it.""There are some in the power station, but just because they're inside that doesn't mean we have to shut down as they are not in the right part of the plant to affect it."
The company has said efficiency improvements would make the new plant more environmentally friendly, with "a reduction in carbon emissions of around two million tonnes - equivalent to taking half a million cars off the UK's roads each and every year". The company has said technological advances and efficiency improvements would make the new plant more environmentally friendly, with "a reduction in carbon emissions of around two million tonnes - equivalent to taking half a million cars off the UK's roads each and every year".