Volkswagen picketed over diesel use

Volkswagen’s UK headquarters has been blockaded by Greenpeace campaigners and medics in protest against diesel vehicles.

The environmental organisation launched the stunt at the car manufacturer’s office in Milton Keynes at about 7am yesterday.

Around 60 activists barricaded entrances to the building and set up a mock clinic offering health advice to staff and members of the public. Greenpeace claimed more than 800 Volkswagen staff employed at the site were prevented from entering.

Concerns over emissions of nitrogen oxides have grown since Volkswagen was found in September 2015 to have cheated air pollution tests for 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide, including 1.2 million in the UK.

Greenpeace is demanding the firm commits to stopping producing diesel cars and switching to only producing electric models. An estimated 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK are caused by air pollution.

Greenpeace clean air campaigner Mel Evans said: “As the UK’S biggest seller of diesel cars, Volkswagen is complicit in an air pollution crisis that’s filling up emergency departments and GP surgeries.”

A Volkswagen UK spokesman said: “The safety of our employees is our principal concern and so the matter is now being handled by the police.” Equity Release may involve a home reversion plan or a lifetime mortgage, which is secured against your property. To understand the features and risks, ask for your personalised illustration. Any money released, plus accrued interest would be repaid upon death, or moving into long-term care.

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