Climate Camp targets biofuel site

Protesters want to halt plans for a coal-fired unit at Kingsnorth power station

Environment demonstrators have targeted a biofuel depot in Essex as part of a week-long Climate Camp being held across the River Thames in Kent.

Eight protesters who blocked the road to the Vopak depot in Thurrock were arrested. Four chained themselves to a fuel storage tank and were arrested.

Protesters said they had blocked lorries from the site but police said the disruption had now ended.

Vopak said its primary concern was for the safe removal of the protesters.

The climate activists are concerned about the impact petrol and diesel, made from plant materials, are having on the environment.

Our primary concern is for the safety of the people on the site and security of our terminal Craig Garbutt, Vorpak

"Far from being a solution to climate change, agrofuels are so damaging they make petroleum look green," said Climate Camp spokesman George Monbiot.

"They threaten both to accelerate climate change and to trigger a global humanitarian disaster."

Vopak's UK operations manager, Craig Garbutt, said he could not comment on the protesters' personal views.

"Our primary concern is for the safety of the people on the site and security of our terminal," he said.

Other climate protests have been staged around the south-east.

Stop and search

Fifteen people lay in a pool of oil to stage a "mass death" scene outside the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland, protesting against investment in fossil fuel expansion.

At Gatwick Airport, two protesters unfurled a banner in the South Terminal arrivals lounge, but were asked to leave by security.

And at the airport's railway station, two activists were arrested after climbing on to the roof of a railway station and unfurling a banner.

On Thursday, camp organisers said numbers on the site near Kingsnorth power station, Hoo, had reached "unprecedented levels".

They claim about 1,500 people have now joined the camp, to show their opposition to E.ON's plans for a coal-fired unit on the site.

Kent Police have said discretionary powers to stop and search people had been extended to the whole of the Hoo peninsula, after people carrying potential weapons were found.

Another 22 people have been arrested at the 1,000-strong camp near the Kingsnorth power station.

In all, 14 have been charged and two have received cautions.

Seven people were arrested on Wednesday at the camp in Hoo, where protesters are opposing a plan to build a new coal-fired power station.

Police said clashes followed concerns about safety access to the campsite

Among those arrested include one on on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage, two on suspicion of theft and one on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

A two-hour meeting was held on Wednesday between police officers and activists in an effort to improve their relationship.

The activists have gathered on a field two miles from the power plant in a week-long protest against plans for a coal-fired unit.

Protesters are aiming to shut down Kingsnorth power station this weekend.

E.ON UK claims the coal-fired unit will be 20% cleaner.

Medway Council has approved the scheme and the final decision will be made by the government.

If approved, E.ON said the power station would be operational by 2012 and would provide energy for 1.5m homes.