UK's Port of Dover hit by blockade by climate change activists

Climate change protesters, who have caused disruption to Britain's busiest motorway this month, on Friday blocked the entrance and exit to the Port of Dover, Europe's busiest trucking port. About 40 activists from the environmental group Insulate Britain, which has blocked the London's M25 orbital motorway five times in the last two weeks, obstructed a number of roads leading to the port.

Climate change protesters, who have caused disruption to Britain's busiest motorway this month, on Friday blocked the entrance and exit to the Port of Dover, Europe's busiest trucking port.

About 40 activists from the environmental group Insulate Britain, which has blocked the London's M25 orbital motorway five times in the last two weeks, obstructed a number of roads leading to the port. It briefly brought traffic to and from the port, which handles about 6,000 trucks a day as the main artery for trade over the English Channel, to a standstill. Police said they had made 17 arrests and the route had been cleared.

"The Port implemented its tried and tested resilience plans in order to deal with the impact of the protest," Doug Bannister, its chief executive, said in a statement. "Today’s targeted activity shows once again the importance and symbolism of Dover to the nation as a critical trade and tourism artery on which the UK continues to rely."

On Tuesday, the government secured a court order against the climate change activists which means they could face prison if they blocked the M25 again. The action has seen protesters obstruct slip roads and the carriageway itself by gluing themselves to the road and pouring paint on it.

"We are sorry for the disruption that we are causing," said Insulate Britain, which wants the government to commit to providing insulation for 29 million homes. "It seems to be the only way to keep the issue of insulation on the agenda."