The disruption resulting from the closure of the bridge has caused a nightmare for motorists, including lorry drivers. There has also been increased congestion in towns, while enforced diversions have necessitated longer, more-polluting journeys.
The #QEIIBridge at #DartfordCrossing remains CLOSED due to the ongoing protest activity.
Please consider alternative routes for your journey. https://t.co/op5RlgRky3 pic.twitter.com/8rJ7waUSS3— National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) October 18, 2022
The two men who scaled the bridge remain there at the time of writing, and as Simon Anslow of Essex Police recently told BBC Essex, the process of safely removing them will be “extremely complicated”.
As Just Stop oil protestors spend a second day at the top of the QE2 bridge, Essex Police Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow tells BBC Essex the force is carefully considering the possibility of removing them. pic.twitter.com/GvftTkOMH3
— BBC Essex (@BBCEssex) October 18, 2022
Amid the ongoing protests, Just Stop Oil, who want the UK Government to end “new oil and gas”, pledged to keep disrupting until their demands are met.
Writing on social media, the protest group said:
“Undeterred by the State’s threats, we stand resolute. Ordinary people refuse to be bystanders at this time of crisis. Our Government is committing an act of genocide and we refuse to be complicit, so we resist. The disruption will end when the Government ends new oil and gas — we will get off the roads tomorrow if they agree to our demand.”
The individuals taking part in the protest on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge maintain they will not come down until their demands are met. If the protestors stick to their words, it appears the crossing could remain closed for some time due to the aforementioned difficulty in removing them.
🌁 Meanwhile, two Just Stop Oil supporters remain up the two 84m masts on the north side of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which remains closed since early yesterday morning. The two climbed the bridge masts at 5am Monday morning and the bridge has been closed for over 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/P0nLIJb4WD
— Just Stop Oil ⚖️💀🛢 (@JustStop_Oil) October 18, 2022
Although there are some backing the protestors, the reaction from the vast majority of the public in the UK appears to be negative. Video footage that has appeared online today even claims to show some individuals firing fireworks in the direction of the men hanging on the bridge.
Commenting on the clip, a spokesperson for Kent Police told Kent Online:
“We are 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.”
Meanwhile, the Government has issued the following statement to the BBC:
“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.”
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