Latest news with #Grangemouth
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Ten arrested after protest which saw Forth Road Bridge shut
A total of 10 people have been arrested following a protest on the Forth Road Bridge on Friday. The crossing was shut at around 1pm after a group allegedly abseiled from the bridge carrying banners. The environmental group Greenpeace have claimed responsibility for the protest, which it said was aimed at chemicals giant INEOS. The group said it was looking to block a ship from reaching the petrochemical plant at Grangemouth. Read More: Forth Road Bridge shut by protestors with police on scene Man charged over death of woman in Irvine, North Ayrshire in 1994 Man arrested after Edinburgh shooting released pending further inquiries Police Scotland said in a statement: "Five men, aged between 35 and 40, and five women, aged between 25 and 42, were arrested in connection and further enquiries are ongoing. "The bridge remains closed at this time." Greenpeace said the climbers were voluntarily transported to Port Edgar in South Queensferry where they were arrested by officers from Police Scotland on suspicion of Culpable and Reckless Conduct. Amy Cameron, programme director at Greenpeace UK said: 'We've achieved what we set out to. By blocking INEOS, we've drawn global attention to the company's bottomless appetite for plastic production, false solutions and profit for its billionaire boss Jim Ratcliffe. 'Their feeble suggestion that recycling and managing waste can hand them a free pass to go on producing more plastic forever is laughable. It comes from the same industry playbook as the health benefits of smoking and carbon offsetting. The plastic pollution problem is just too massive. Less than 10% of plastic is currently recycled globally, and this is set to rise to just 17% by 2060, while the amount of plastic we're producing is set to triple. The only solution is to address the problem at source which means securing a strong Global Plastics Treaty that imposes legally-binding caps on plastic production. 'INEOS are cutting jobs at Grangemouth while trying to open a massive new plastics plant in Belgium, leaving Scottish workers high and dry. If Jim Ratcliffe really cared about skilled jobs in Scotland he'd invest his billions in supporting his workers to transition into the green industries of the future, instead of throwing money at Formula 1 racing teams and football clubs.' A spokesman for Ineos said: 'Today's Greenpeace stunt is dangerous, disruptive and entirely counterproductive. 'It may grab headlines but it does absolutely nothing to reduce plastic pollution or deliver real-world solutions, and ultimately threatens skilled jobs in Scotland. 'Ineos produces materials that society relies on every day, from clean drinking water pipes and medical equipment to insulation, lightweight cars, and wind turbine blades – even the safety harnesses used by the protesters. 'These aren't luxury items, they're essential to modern life and to lowering emissions. 'In most cases, plastic is the most sustainable option available, confirmed by independent studies, which is why it has so many uses.' Greenpeace said: "Contrary to INEOS' claims, the protest was both safe and caused minimal disruption. The climbers are all highly-trained and spent weeks rehearsing this action to ensure it was safe. They were supported at all times by rescue climbers and support boats. The Forth Road Bridge carries low volumes of bus, bicycle and pedestrian traffic and was closed by Police Scotland - not by the protest directly."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Ten arrests after Greenpeace protest closes Forth Road Bridge
Ten people have been arrested after environmental protesters abseiled off the Forth Road Bridge in a demonstration against a tanker carrying fracked protest against the Ineos ship Independence - which was making its way to Grangemouth - was reported to police at about 13:00 on men, aged between 35 and 40, and five women, aged between 25 and 42, were later arrested in connection with the bridge remains closed. Images from the scene had shown protesters on wires holding red banners displaying a number of slogans decrying Ineos' influence in the plastics accused the firm, and its owner, Jim Ratcliffe, of attempting to sabotage a global plastics treaty due to be voted on by UN member states in Switzerland next described the action by Greenpeace as "dangerous, disruptive, and entirely counterproductive," adding it "threatened skilled jobs in Scotland".
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Mayhem as ten Greenpeace activists abseil down from Scotland's Forth Road Bridge 'to protest Manchester United owner Jim Ratcliffe'
Ten Greenpeace activists abseiled down Scotland's Forth Road Bridge to protest plastic plant owned by Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The group said it wanted to block an Ineos tanker carrying fracked gas to a plastics plant at Grangemouth. The site is near Edinburgh and part of Ineos - a company owned by Sir Ratcliffe that produces virgin plastics. The activists suspended themselves using ropes 25 metres from the water level at high tide and held banners saying, 'Plastics Treaty Now'. The stunt has already halted traffic but the group say they plan to stay in place for 24 hours - using hammocks to make themselves comfortable if they need to. They also have a support team on the bridge itself and on the water. The protest comes ahead of Donald Trump's visit to Scotland this weekend. Greenpeace spokeswoman Amy Cameron told The Telegraph: 'The Global Plastics Treaty offers us a once-in-a-generation chance to tackle the problem for good, so it's no surprise Ineos and its billionaire boss, Jim Ratcliffe, are doing everything they can to stop it. 'Ratcliffe tries to distract us with sports teams and sponsorships, but we're not going to let him fill our planet with plastic, so he can fill his pockets with profit.' They said petrochemical companies like Ineos are blocking progress for an international agreement on plastics. She added: 'We are here today to say that if you're going to try and block the plastics treaty, we're going to block you.' Ms Cameron said she expected the protest to be 'safe and peaceful', and precautions had been taken, adding: 'From our perspective, we don't think there's any need for the police to be here.' Asked about any disruption for travellers, she said: 'It's definitely not our intention to cause any disruption to any member of the public. 'Our climbers have access to bridge via the pedestrian walkway, which is separated from the roads - which is separated from the roads. 'So there was no need to close the road bridge, if that's a decision that Police Scotland have taken, then that's their decision.' Police Scotland said they were alerted at 1.05pm and officers were 'engaged with those involved'. The public were asked to avoid the area. The bridge is one of three crossing the Firth of Forth in central Scotland which links Edinburgh to Fife.
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Forth Road Bridge closed as 10 Greenpeace activists hang from ropes
The Forth Road Bridge has been closed to traffic after 10 Greenpeace activists suspended themselves from the structure in order to block a tanker. The group said it wanted to block an Ineos tanker carrying fracked gas to the Grangemouth industrial site further up the Firth of Forth. Greenpeace said its international team wished to protest the production of plastics and the impact they have on the environment. The activists suspended themselves using ropes and are about 25 metres from the water level at high tide. They have a support team on the bridge itself and on the water, with the group saying they plan to stay in place for 24 hours – using hammocks to make themselves comfortable if they need to. Greenpeace spokeswoman Amy Cameron told the PA news agency: 'The world's in the grip of a serious plastics pollution crisis, and in the UK the biggest plastic producer is Ineos. 'At the Grangemouth site they produce enough plastic every day to make 60 million plastic bottles.' They said petrochemical companies like Ineos are blocking progress for an international agreement on plastics. She added: 'We are here today to say that if you're going to try and block the plastics treaty, we're going to block you.' Ms Cameron said she expected the protest to be 'safe and peaceful', and precautions had been taken, adding: 'From our perspective, we don't think there's any need for the police to be here.' Asked about any disruption for travellers, she said: 'It's definitely not our intention to cause any disruption to any member of the public. 'Our climbers have access to bridge via the pedestrian walkway, which is separated from the roads – which is separated from the roads. 'So there was no need to close the road bridge, if that's a decision that Police Scotland have taken, then that's their decision.' Police Scotland said they were alerted at 1.05pm and officers were 'engaged with those involved'. The public were asked to avoid the area. The bridge is one of three crossing the Firth of Forth in central Scotland which links Edinburgh to Fife.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Forth Road Bridge closed as 10 Greenpeace activists hang from ropes
The Forth Road Bridge has been closed to traffic after 10 Greenpeace activists suspended themselves from the structure in order to block a tanker. The group said it wanted to block an Ineos tanker carrying fracked gas to the Grangemouth industrial site further up the Firth of Forth. Greenpeace said its international team wished to protest the production of plastics and the impact they have on the environment. The activists suspended themselves using ropes and are about 25 metres from the water level at high tide. They have a support team on the bridge itself and on the water, with the group saying they plan to stay in place for 24 hours – using hammocks to make themselves comfortable if they need to. Greenpeace spokeswoman Amy Cameron told the PA news agency: 'The world's in the grip of a serious plastics pollution crisis, and in the UK the biggest plastic producer is Ineos. 'At the Grangemouth site they produce enough plastic every day to make 60 million plastic bottles.' They said petrochemical companies like Ineos are blocking progress for an international agreement on plastics. She added: 'We are here today to say that if you're going to try and block the plastics treaty, we're going to block you.' Ms Cameron said she expected the protest to be 'safe and peaceful', and precautions had been taken, adding: 'From our perspective, we don't think there's any need for the police to be here.' Asked about any disruption for travellers, she said: 'It's definitely not our intention to cause any disruption to any member of the public. 'Our climbers have access to bridge via the pedestrian walkway, which is separated from the roads – which is separated from the roads. 'So there was no need to close the road bridge, if that's a decision that Police Scotland have taken, then that's their decision.' Police Scotland said they were alerted at 1.05pm and officers were 'engaged with those involved'. The public were asked to avoid the area. The bridge is one of three crossing the Firth of Forth in central Scotland which links Edinburgh to Fife.
