Road protest fails to make an impact
DESPITE high hopes of major disruption (see left), a pro-Brexit protest failed to make much impact last night.
About 100 truckers were expected to take part in the “Great British road block south Wales” in protest at the potential delay to Brexit.
It was part of a series of blockades planned across the UK by Brexit Direct Action.
Around 10 vehicles met at Magor services at 6pm, before taking to the motorway to cause delays around the Prince of Wales Bridge.
Traffic was seen moving slowly across the bridge before the protesters headed into Bristol.
Julia Lewis, who was at the protest, said: “We are here to demonstrate tonight against the loss of our country’s democracy. We hope to achieve recognition that 17.4m voters voted to come out of the EU.”
Ukip issued a statement to its members warning against participation, saying it would “achieve nothing”.
A statement on Twitter by Brexit Direct Action read: “Several social media groups have been in contact to ask if we’ll help gather support for a national truck drivers protest if Brexit is delayed.
“Brexiteers all over the country are planning to bring this country to its knees by blocking the main arterial routes - M1, M6 M25, M62, A1, A55, M5, M4, M42, M55, M61, A66 etc.”
Fishermen from Pembrokeshire are also getting behind the pro-Brexit protests by holding their own blockade of Pembroke Dock Ferry Terminal today. They plan to block lorries coming out of the ferry terminal but have said they will not block any public coming or going.
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman said: “We are aware of a planned protest and we will always seek to facilitate the right to peaceful protest, balancing the right to protest with disruption to local communities. We work with protest organisers to achieve this.”