Extinction Rebellion, the group set up to highlight government inaction on climate change, is holding a People’s Assembly in Greenwich on Saturday to discuss solutions to pollution and other issues with local people.
The Greenwich & Woolwich MP Matt Pennycook will be among the speakers at the event, which takes place from 11am-6pm at the Stephen Lawrence Building in Greenwich University, and is organised by the local branch of the movement.
On Friday, the neighbouring Lewisham branch blocked roads for five minutes at a tim during the morning rush hour on the A20 outside Lewisham station, A2 at Deptford Bridge and the A205 outside Lewisham Town Hall in Catford – the biggest protest of its kind in south-east London since Reclaim The Streets blocked Greenwich town centre in 1995.
An Extinction Rebellion Greenwich spokesperson said: “Greenwich Council has decided to extend City Airport, and shows ongoing support for the Silvertown Tunnel. It is clear to XR Greenwich that these actions will exacerbate the climate emergency.
“We have therefore organised a Peoples’ Assembly. It aims to crowd source solutions to pollution, lack of biodiversity and more from members of the local community.”
London City Airport is in the borough of Newham, and Greenwich Council has little say over whether it expands or not, but the council did not raise objections to its two most recent expansion schemes, in 2007 and 2015. The council has backed the Silvertown Tunnel since it was first proposed by Boris Johnson in 2012, despite repeated objections from rank and file Labour members.
The group is asking people, if they can, to sign up via an Eventbrite invitation. The group is also holding a protest against the Silvertown Tunnel outside City Hall on Thursday morning.
The BBC London News report is from Tom Edwards and is used by arrangement with the BBC Local News Partnerships scheme.
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