Court order to tackle Essex fuel protests extended until next year
The injuction prevents demonstrators blocking roads and glueing themselves to the ground
A court order which stops protestors blocking roads near fuel terminals in Essex has been extended until May next year.
An injunction was granted to Thurrock Council and Essex County Council back in April after weeks of environmental protests.
Essex Police made more than 450 arrests during the protests, with groups including Just Stop Oil breaking into depots in order to halt fuel deliveries.
Demonstrators also chained themselves to vehicles, gates and fencing and used glue to fix themselves onto roads outside depots.
They were calling for the government to abandon its investments in the fossil fuel industry and to speed up the transition to green energy, amid the climate crisis.
More than £1m was spent on policing the demonstrations.
The court order names 222 people involved in the protests and aims to limit their activities in South Essex.
It prevents protestors from blocking roads, stopping vehicles and gluing themselves to the road or vehicles.
In a ruling last week the defendants were also ordered to pay costs.
Leader of Thurrock Council, Councillor Rob Gledhill, said: "We are pleased that the judge has extended our injunction and that protestors will bear some of the costs it took for us to get these legal measures in place."
"The protests earlier this year caused considerable disruption for local residents and businesses as well as threatening vital fuel deliveries for the entire region.
"The innovative legal action taken by Thurrock Council, and our partners Essex County Council, completely prevents protestors from using the methods and tactics they employed to create this disruption."