Protesters have vowed to remain on prime of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge till they’re “brought down”, that means commuters face extra chaos this morning.
Two members of local weather change group Just Stop Oil scaled the 84m-high masts on the north aspect of the bridge on Monday to “demand that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents”.
A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil advised the PA information company on Monday night that the protesters had been “all set up” to spend the night time on prime of the bridge.
“They’re not going to come down in the dark, and the bridge is still closed,” she stated.
“So they are going to have closed the M25 for over 24 hours, at the very least.
“My understanding is that they are going to stay up there until they’re brought down.
“That’s my understanding in the intervening time.
“I don’t know how they’re going to be brought down, and I’m not sure the police do either at the moment.”
During Monday’s rush hour, the closure of the M25 Dartford Crossing brought on delays of two hours, with six miles of congestion on the anti-clockwise carriageway and 5 miles in the other way, in response to National Highways.
The crossing additionally contains two tunnels and is among the many nation’s busiest sections of street, being the one means motorists can cross the Thames east of London.
Morgan Trowland, 39, a bridge design engineer from London, stated in a press release launched by Just Stop Oil: “As a professional civil engineer, each year as I renew my registration I commit to acting within our code of ethics, which requires me to safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.
“Our authorities has enacted suicidal legal guidelines to speed up oil manufacturing, killing human life and destroying the environment.
“I can’t challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I’m taking direct action, occupying the QEII bridge until the government stops all new oil.”
Another protester, recognized as Marcus, 33, a trainer from London, stated: “Only direct action will now help to reach the social tipping point we so urgently need.”
Essex Police Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow stated: “We will take action against anyone who puts life in danger or thinks they can selfishly stop others getting to work or getting on with their lives.”
It’s the most recent protest by the group’s activists, who on Sunday sprayed an Aston Martin showroom with orange paint and some days earlier threw tomato soup over Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
Source: information.sky.com”