Extinction Rebellion protesters will march through Bristol city centre tomorrow (July 30) as part of a day of action to bring attention to the climate crisis. The environmental activists will begin their march at midday, and a statement from the group says that it is "likely to cause some traffic disruption on the city centre roads".
The demonstration aims to draw attention to two of XR's campaign points - stopping the expansion of Bristol Airport, and improving public transport in Bristol and around the UK. XR have previously protested against the Government's decision to allow the airport to expand with new terminal buildings, which would see the number of passengers increase from around 10 million a year to 12 million.
The decision has been appealed by Bristol Airport Action Network, and the case is due to be heard at a court in Bristol from November 8-9. XR have argued that airport expansion will deal a big blow to the efforts to stop the climate crisis, and activist Ben Moss, who lives in the Chew Valley, said opposition to the plan is "clear".
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“Earlier this month we witnessed the tarmac on airport runways melting as the UK sweltered in the highest temperatures ever recorded," he said. "The need to drastically reduce CO2 emissions is so urgent yet we are having to campaign tirelessly to fend off Bristol Airport from expanding.
"The opposition to airport expansion is clear – from the local community up to the Government’s own Climate Change Committee – yet Bristol Airport is arrogantly ignoring these calls. They are hell-bent on harming the lives of local residents, our children’s futures and our planet as a whole.”
XR's protest on Saturday also aims to draw attention to their campaign for improved public transport, including calls for free bus travel within the West of England for all people under the age of 25, as well as students and apprentices. Dan Norris, the metro mayor for the West of England Combined Authority - the local authority in charge of transport - has previously said that the idea would be “very lovely”, but there is currently no funding to make it happen.
XR are also calling for public ownership of public transport, and have attacked "rising prices and reduced services" on buses and trains. The group says that improved public transport would help the environment by reducing traffic from cars, and they have highlighted a national RAC survey from 2019 which found that 57 per cent of motorists would drive less if public transport were better, and that the most common reason for not using public transport was that fares were too high.
Bristol-based XR activist Luke Lanyon-Hogg has criticised the rising fares and reduced services on Bristol buses. “We face a climate emergency and we need to urgently rethink how we travel around the area," he said. "As a non-driver public transport is very important to me and the state of Bristol buses makes me angry.
"Over the past five years I've seen the price of a day ticket go up by two pounds, while the number of services is going down. I have no objection to my taxes subsidising public transport, but I want to see all that money go to improving services, not into the pockets of shareholders.
"Private ownership of any public service is inefficient because money is lost paying shareholders. Public transport should be for people not for profit.
"The environmental and health benefits are clear, more people taking buses means less vehicles on the road which means less emissions. We have just had a red weather warning in this country and time has run out so we must prioritise people and planet before profit."
XR's protest plans have had some high profile backers - music duo Groove Armada, who are due to play at Lloyd’s Amphitheatre tonight for the Siren Festival, gave the protest their support on Twitter. "Bristol crew can’t wait to party with you Tonight. This looks like a good place to be on Saturday…", they wrote.
As well as the march in the city centre, XR will also set up an information hub in Queens Square from 10am, with speakers, arts activities and block printing as well as a space for families.
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