Extinction Rebellion protesters refuse to back down after four nights on top of City Hall
Extinction Rebellion protesters have spent a fourth night camped on the roof of Bristol's City Hall, as they call for immediate action to improve the city's air quality.
The group of five activists scaled the building last Thursday. They're demanding a commitment to ensure legally clean air in every part of the city. So far the council has refused to engage with them.
Last night a projector broadcasted messages of support for the activists onto the front of City Hall from children, parents and public figures such as MEP Molly Scott Cato and City-to-Sea campaigner Natalie Fee.
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The group claims that Bristol City Council is failing to set out a clear plan of action to address the 'climate emergency'.
Bristol City Council was the first council in the UK to declare a climate emergency in November 2018, it then followed up with a declaration of Ecological Emergency in February 2020.
The city plans to introduce a city-centre diesel ban as part of a Clean Air Zone, although this has been delayed due to the pandemic.
Protester Peter Hughes said, “Bristol is already lagging behind the measures introduced by other UK cities. Our air pollution not only has appalling effects for the people of the city, but it is contributing to the planetary climate and ecological emergency.
“We need to see a clear plan of action to address this emergency, with targets and milestone dates. That’s how the changes we desperately need will be made.
“The proposed Clean Air Zone is already very limited in scope, and the Mayor is talking of delaying its implementation due next March.
“We had clean air during lockdown. We know that pollution levels will rise as economic activity returns.
"All we’re asking at this stage is that air pollution doesn’t rise above the maximum legal limit defined by the World Health Organisation WHO / European regulations.
“We want the Mayor and the council to make a public commitment to that, and we’re not coming down until we have it.”