The injunction covers the M25, M25 feeder roads and major roads in Kent. It was originally obtained by National Highways last May and will now remain in place for a further year.
National Highways says the extension of the injunction is intended to prevent unlawful protests on the busy orbital motorway around Greater London, roads which interchange with the motorway and the roads leading to and around the Dover ports.
The roads authority warns that anyone found to be in breach of the injunction order may face civil proceedings for contempt of court. They could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine, the seizure of assets or a combination of all three for breaching an injunction order.
Given Just Stop Oil’s ongoing campaign of causing major disruption, National Highways says it remains concerned that the motorways, predominantly in the South East, will continue to be targeted by protesters in the future.
“The injunction obtained by National Highways is part of ongoing efforts by National Highways to deter protests on the strategic road network. A further injunction was obtained in November last year and specifically covers the structures on the M25, including overhead gantries, which Just Stop Oil targeted that month,” said National Highways in a press release.
Commenting on the news, Tim Reardon, National Highways’ General Counsel, said:
“Millions of people rely on the strategic road network every day and they have a right to expect it to operate as it should. We are really pleased to have obtained an extension to this injunction, so anyone intending to protest on the M25, its feeder routes and main roads around the Port of Dover – in additional to structures on the M25 – will run the risk of imprisonment, an unlimited fine or a seizure of assets, or a combination of all three.”
National Highways adds that it continues to work closely and collaboratively with police forces across areas affected by unlawful protest activity with the aim of keeping disruption to the public to a minimum.
Photo: Matt Hrkac / Flickr / CC BY 2.0