Didcot Power Protestors Arrested after Two Nights on Top of Chimney Stack

Nine climate change protestors were arrested yesterday, after completing a staged protest at a power station in Oxfordshire. The group had been atop a chimney stack where they openely protested against the coal-fired power station.

The climate campaigners stormed the Didcot Power Station around 530 GMT Monday Morning and remained there until 430 GMT Wednesday. Upon descending the climate change campaigners were promptly arrested, which brings the total count to 20 of protestors arrested during the three day demonstration.

RWE npower, owner and operating of the Didcot facility, said that the protest had not affected plant performance, and that power generation and supply had continued as usual. During the demonstration, protestors carried flags and banners which read “Climate Justice”.

After officials arrested a total of eleven individuals on Monday, six men and five women, all believed to be conspiring in the protest against the coal plant to commit aggravated trespass, security had been beefed-up at the Didcot plant facility.

Later on Monday, an additional five men and four women mounted the chimney stack where they remained until being arrested for aggravated trespass yesterday, Wednesday. The group used power tools to cut away at the gates blocking off the coal facility. This same group had been at Camp for Climate Action earlier in the year.

RWE npower’s spokesperson said that security was in the process of being upgraded on gates, fences, and lighting, and that it was a shame that security had not been fully completed by the time the climate protestors arrived on Monday. Ongoing investigations are being conducted and officials remain at the site to collect more evidence.