Insulate Britain activists are planning to resume their protests in spring 2022, a court has heard today.
Nine protesters are today on trial in the High Court, facing allegations of breaching injunctions issued to prevent their climate change protests.
The legal representative for National Highways Ltd, which is bringing the legal action, said police intelligence suggested the Insulate Britain group would resume protests in the spring.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of one of the activists, 62-year-old Dr Diane Warner of Bristol, who did not turn up at court. She is not answering calls or emails from her solicitors, the court heard.
The activists due to face contempt of court proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice today are: Dr Ben Buse, Ruth Jarman, Biff Whipster, Dr Diana Warner, Paul Sheeky, Richard Ramsden, Stephen Gower, Steven Pritchard and the Rev Sue Parfitt.
Rev Parfitt, an Anglican priest from Bristol, said: “It’s a pretty scary sort of experience.
“I feel deeply called to do this because I think it’s the only kind of action left to do in the dire (climate) emergency we are in.”
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The 79-year-old said she would not go on hunger strike should she be sent to prison, as others have done.
She said: “It is extreme action that we have taken, and we shall continue to take when we are out of prison, because what else can we do?
“At my age, what have I got to lose? I have everything to gain in the sense of doing what I believe to be God’s will – that gives me total contentment and peace of mind.”
A further 17 climate activists face being summoned to the High Court at later dates, the group said last month.
Since September, the protesters have disrupted traffic around the UK and particularly on the M25, demanding that the Government insulate Britain’s “leaky homes” and end deaths it says are caused by winter fuel poverty.
A number of High Court injunctions against the group’s road blockades have been granted to Transport for London and National Highways to prevent their disruptive protests.
Those who breach the injunctions could be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.
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