Shameless eco-warriors block M1 and M11 near Stansted airport in third day of chaos hours after being dragged off M25
SHAMELESS eco-warriors blocked the M11 near Stansted Airport and the M1 in a third day of chaos just hours after being dragged off the M25.
Activists from Insulate Britain shut down the major motorways and sparked travel chaos for motorists this morning before being carted off by cops.
It is the third time this week that activists dressed in hi-vis have blockaded the UK’s busiest road - causing commuters three-hour delays.
One group of protesters blocked the M11 junction with the A120 in Essex, while others sat down in the middle of the road at Junction 5 of the M1 in Watford.
Hertfordshire cops said 11 people were arrested on the M1 on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
And just this morning, other environmentalists from the same group - who have already been arrested and released twice since Monday- stormed Junction 3 at Swanley in Kent shortly after 8.30am.
They plonked themselves in the middle of the tarmac and tailbacks quickly formed.
Several furious drivers lost their patience, with one man in a white van yelling: "Go to work you lazy b******s."
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Another man, a contractor for DX Logistics which delivers medical supplies, said: "We’re fuming about this. The van stuck in traffic here is carrying ventilators, drips, everything.
"This protest is p***ing us off. We can’t get any medical supplies out to the hospitals, which should have arrived by now. It’s ridiculous, it’s wrong. We are livid."
Police were in position ready to swarm, and were later pictured hauling the environmentalists off the road - but the group actually thanked them.
Sandy, 31, who works as a teacher, told The Sun Online: "On Monday and Wednesday there was a lot of screaming at us from motorists. Today, we’re well protected by the police and there’s less opportunity for it."
She added that today was the third time she had been arrested this week - but she will keep returning to shut down the M25.
"I feel calm. It’s out of my hands now. If I’m released, I will come back here," she said.
"Losing my job is a small concern compared to what’s coming if we don’t lower our carbon emissions."
Fourteen activists were swiftly dragged off the road by police.
But one protester, Cathy, a mum of two, remained glued to the road.
She said: "I’m really scared. I don’t want to be doing this, I’m doing this for my children.
"I’m only doing this because I’m desperate."
MAJOR DISRUPTION
The group are demanding the government insulate all homes in Britain by 2025, starting with social housing.
Activist Oliver, 41, from London, said: "The police wouldn’t interview us when they arrested us earlier this week - they all just released us with no bail conditions.
"I told two officers I was going out to commit the crime again. They just advised against it.
"I was very clear I would return to the motorway. We all informed them of our intentions.
"I think it’s strange because they’re supposed to stop people committing crimes. And here they are letting us go and break the law again.
"If this is so dangerous, they are now part responsible as they have full knowledge of our intentions. Why are they letting us do this?"
Some 89 campaigners brought traffic to a standstill for hours on September 15 - two days after sparking travel chaos during a rush-hour blockade on Monday.
One mob blocked Junction 23 at South Mimms, Hertfordshire, while a second group shut down the main carriageway from Junction 8 at Reigate to Junction 9 at Leatherhead, both in Surrey.
Some even glued their hands to the road in the Dartford Crossing area at Junction 1A and 1B.
I hope by causing disruption through civil disobedience that we can get our message. I’m not doing this because I want to.
Cameron
Police from Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Kent arrested dozens of the climate change protesters after the widespread chaos.
But it is understood the majority of campaigners were released under investigation without bail conditions.
Cameron, 31, who works as a carpenter, said this morning: "I had my birthday in the police cell on Wednesday. I’ve told my clients I can’t work today.
"I’m taking time off, I’m self employed, this affects my business. 10,000 people are dying a year because they can’t afford to turn their heating on.
"I’m worried about confrontation - I think people are understandably angry by the immediate situation.
"But we’re trying to look at the long-term situation. This is nothing compared to what’s coming.
"I hope by causing disruption through civil disobedience that we can get our message. I’m not doing this because I want to.
"I’ve never been arrested before. This isn’t what we want. One of the girls was left in cuffs for three hours with marks all over her hands."
'I WILL COME BACK'
Fellow campaigner Oliver added: "It’s horrible having to sit in the middle of the road and think about the inconvenience, but there’s a more important thing going on here.
"I feel like I’m doing the right thing. We will be coming out here again and again. I don’t care anymore if it f***s up my life."
Despite having their pockets searched and being in handcuffs, the group continued to sing a song about "standing together".
"We sing to keep our spirits up," Cathy said.
It took Kent cops an hour to detain 14 protesters and bung them into five police vans to be taken into custody.
Elsewhere, Insulate Britain blocked the M11 roundabout at Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, at 9am, Junction 9 at Leatherhead in Surrey, 28 near Brentwood in Essex, and Junction 1 of the M3,
A total of 48 protesters were arrested following the rush-hour mayhem.
Priti Patel has warned "selfish" eco-warriors blockading roads they face jail under new laws to tackle illegal demonstrations.
'DANGEROUS'
She urged police to take "decisive action" and vowed to target protests under the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
She branded the group's “guerrilla tactics” as “completely unacceptable” and warned that they could be slapped with jail terms under new powers.
"This government will not stand by and allow a small minority to cause significant disruption to the lives and livelihoods of the hard-working majority," she said.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also laid in, calling the demonstrations "dangerous and counterproductive".
He added on Twitter: "We all agree that climate change must be tackled, but this sort of behaviour achieves nothing, puts drivers at risk and INCREASES pollution."
Organisers could face up to six months in prison or fines of up to £2,500.
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Earlier this week a four-vehicle smash on the M25 was blamed on the climate change protesters who blocked the carriageway.
A 50-year-old woman was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition after the crash at junction 9 for Leatherhead, Surrey.
