Arrests made at environmental protest

Arrests have been made at a protest against the building of a new coal-fired power station. Police arrested a number of people during a second raid at the site in Kingsnorth, Kent, where 400 eco-activists are gathering for a week-long environmental protest. Campaigners are opposed to proposals by the plant's owners, E.On, to build a new on-site coal-fired facility - the first such plant to be built in Britain for more than 30 years. Police officers faced resistance as they entered the Camp for Climate Action site near Kingsnorth power station to remove vehicles blocking its entrance. A statement by Kent Police said officers had become "increasingly concerned" about the lack of safe access or emergency exit routes from the site in Dux Court Road, near Hoo. Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said: "We used absolutely the minimum force necessary to ensure safe access and entry routes to and from the site. "However, the response from protesters, including those who have "locked on" to the vehicles causing the obstruction, has required us to increase our presence on the site." Terry Graves, a Camp for Climate Action spokesman, said: "The police are claiming the vehicles were blocking the emergency exit and were abandoned, both of which are lies." He claimed the "heavy handed" police action was designed to dissuade people from coming to the camp. Two people, a man and a woman, were arrested for obstruction and were bailed to appear at Medway Magistrates' Court on August 28. More than 1,000 protesters are expected to take part in a planned day of direct action on Saturday to "shut down" Kingsnorth.

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ITN | August 4, 2008

Tags:. .dux. .medway. .eco. .handed. .expected