Grannies who glued themselves to Dorset Council desks will face no charges
Annie Webster and Giovanna Lewis were protesting against fossil fuels
Last updated 21st Jun 2022
The two ‘Grannies for the future’ who disrupted a Dorset Council meeting, sticking themselves to a desk, have been told they will not be charged with any offence.
Annie Webster and Giovanna Lewis, whose actions shortened a council debate in April, say they stand by their actions – despite criticism from some councillors.
In a statement the pair say that after lengthy interviews with the council and the police it had been decided no arrests would be made and no charges brought.
“We stand by our action as a method of shining a light on the dangerous and ill-informed view that it is okay to expand fossil fuels in a climate emergency. The United Nations themselves tell us it is criminal to do so. Dr Faith Birol, of the International Energy Agency also says “If governments are serious about the climate crisis, there can be no new investments in oil, gas and coal, from now – from this year.”
The pair say in their statement that council leader Spencer Flower is following government duplicity – at Cop26 calling for a reduction in fossil fuels, and now saying we need to expand them due to the Ukraine crisis.
“Councillor Flower’s belief that self reliance and cheaper energy will come through expanding local fossil fuels, is incorrect. We’ve had Wytch Farm in Purbeck running for decades and our energy bills have not reduced and are now going through the roof. Fossil fuels are sold at global market prices, wherever they are extracted.
“We also ask Councillor O’Leary (Littlemoor and Preston) to think again about nuclear energy – it’s taken over 30 years for Winfrith’s nuclear waste to be removed – nuclear waste is an enormous problem in society and one that needs to reduce, not expand.”
The pair says that millions of pounds of taxpayers money is currently subsidising the fossil fuel and nuclear industries each and every day.
“This should be immediately transferred to investment in genuine clean and no-risk sustainable renewable energy. Let’s invest in the wind, the sun and the tides, we are surrounded by them and they reduce carbon emissions and are not radioactive…
“Come on Dorset councillors, you have the majority on the council, you can vote to lobby for what are truly the best solutions – do the right thing – and leave the best legacy possible for our children and grandchildren of the future. This is what we stand for!”