Trains Secretary Grant Shapps leaves Downing Street after the cabinet meeting, on 17 September 2021 in London, UK REUTERS Peter Nicholls is the most experienced of Peter Nicholls.
LONDON, Sept 17 - Reuters : The British government condemned dangerous climate change activists who tried on Friday to block London's busy M 25 orbital motorway for the third time this week.
Insulate Britain, which wants the government to commit to providing insulation for 29 million homes, said almost 80 activists had attempted to block junctions and part of the motorway itself, one of Britain's busiest, during the morning rush hour.
Similar protests in the 117-mile motorway on Monday and Wednesday caused parts of the high visibility highway to stop at a standstill, leading to long tailbacks and delays, provoking fury from some motorists and demands for tough police action. This is dangerous and counterproductive, Transport Minister Grant Shapps told the audience in Twitter. We all agree climate change must be addressed, but this kind of behavior does nothing, puts drivers at risk and increases pollution. I expect police to take swift action to clear the streets. About 90 of the group's activists had already been released for earlier protests this week, but have returned to repeat their high-profile, disruptive action which has seen some glueing themselves to the road after being arrested.
Although police were currently prepared for Friday's protest, preventing some activists from making it onto the carriageway, some were still able to partially block a number of M25 junctions briefly.
Surrey Police said 24 arrests had been made in two major interchanges and the road was now clear.
The actions of this group have significantly impacted the major road network around London, said the Metropolitan Police deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor.
This behavior goes beyond the parameters of reasonable exercise of protest rights and disproportionately impacts the rights of others to go about their daily business. Insulate is saying it will continue to take action until the government meets its demands.