TWENTY-four hours after campaigners announced further progress in their battle to stop the supply of petrol from Thurrock fuel terminals, Thurrock Council has announced this evening that all roads affected by the protest have been reopened.

But it still appears protesters remain in tunnels close to the terminals which they have expanded and have broken through to the surface at some points.

Stoneness Road in West Thurrock has been particularly affected.

Official word of what is exactly happening in the area around the Navigator terminal in West Thurrock is wrapped up in delay and a degree of secrecy from the authorities.

Late today Essex Police made the following announcement: "Eight people are currently in custody following protest activity on St Clements Way in Grays last night.

"We were called at around 8pm yesterday (28 August) following reports of a group of people obstructing the road and an oil tanker.

"Our officers acted quickly to remove the group. The road was temporarily closed but re-opened around 3am this morning. Eight people were arrested on suspicion of offences including going equipped to cause criminal damage. They remain in custody.

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin added: "Following a busy week of protest activity, our priorities remain to keep Essex moving, keep people safe and minimise the disruption to the public.

"Two tunnels on Stoneness Road and St Clements Way remain occupied. The road at St Clements Way remains partially open, and Thurrock Council Highways Department are ensuring an overview of the road.

"We appreciate that this situation is incredibly frustrating for the public, but we ask drivers to check your journey before you travel in the West Thurrock area.

"We are continuing to engage with those involved in this week's protests. The UK has seen many protests over the years, and protests which are peaceful and non-disruptive can be an effective way to provoke conversation around a specific issue or topic.

"We take the concerns of this particular protest group its members and supporters seriously and willing to work with you so that your rights to peaceful protest can take place without members breaking the law. 

Protesters in their Thurrock tunnel.

"I would therefore like to extend my personal invitation to these protestors to start a conversation between us, where we can together find a balance that will allow your members to exercise their rights to protest effectively, whilst also doing so within the boundaries of the law. The current action is dangerous and putting lives at risk. We encourage those involved to re-evaluate the action they are taking."

This evening (Monday, 29 August), at 8.45pm, Thurrock Council announced: "Stoneness Road has re-opened this evening, Monday 29 August, following its closure with limited vehicle access, due to a police incident.

The council quoted police as saying: "Essex Police are continuing to work with partners to minimise disruption to the roads and keep the public safe. Following this week's protests over 50 arrests have been made and these individuals remain under investigation.

"We thank the public for the cooperation during this disruption and assure you that we are continuing to do everything possible to investigate these incidents and prevent them from happening."

A spokesperson from Thurrock Council added: "Thank you to Essex Police and our partner agencies for the round the clock support that has been provided in the area this last week. The road closures have had significant impact on our local business and we are grateful for everyone's understanding during these challenging times. Together we have been monitoring the situation meticulously and have had a duty of care to protect life and keep everyone safe, but also keep Thurrock moving.

"We would like to thank all of the businesses for their ongoing patience and those businesses in the local area who have supported the police operation too.

"Finally, thank you to the council officers who have worked so closely with our stakeholders and will be working through the night tomorrow to repair the damage caused to our roads."

Yesterday the campaign group JustStopOil issued the following release: "A handful of ordinary people have blocked an oil tanker on a key route to and from Britain's largest oil terminal in Essex in support of Just Stop Oil's demand that the UK government end new oil and gas projects in the UK. 

"Up to 10 people stopped an oil tanker, while one climbed on top to 'tanker surf' and others deflated the tyres. The action was designed to block St Clements Way, Grays, a key delivery route from the Navigator oil terminal, as it runs over a tunnel occupied by Just Stop Oil supporters.

"Since Tuesday when the tunnel was revealed, the tunnellers have been extending the tunnel further under the carriageway and digging upwards towards the road surface. Taking advantage of a break in the traffic today, the tunnellers have made good on their promise to break through the tarmac from below.

"The plan was hatched after a Highways Agency safety expert visited the site on Tuesday and declared the road safe to open to traffic. Video footage shows the man suggesting that unless the tunnellers could provide him with 'a piece of tarmac from the road above' the road would be reopened."

The release continued, quoting 'Sam', 39, a groundworker from Suffolk, 'currently on his sixth day occupying the tunnel', who  said: "We have asked every day for the road to be shut, but the Police have continued to dismiss our concerns for public safety. We have an ongoing situation where trucks weighing over 40 tonnes are driving directly over an occupied tunnel putting our lives and those of the drivers at risk. 

"It was my choice to occupy this tunnel and I will accept the consequences because I can't standby and let the government continue with its plans to fast track up to 46 new oil and gas projects. This will do nothing for our skyrocketing energy bills and will put millions of people unknowingly or unwillingly at risk of serious harm from climate collapse. 

"No-one has consented to having their lives destroyed by drought, wildfires and floods, by crop failure and disease and by the violence that will follow the breakdown of ordered society. If you are mad as hell about the climate and cost of living crisis, join us on October 1st in Westminster. We can do this. We can Just Stop Oil"

Earlier police arrested Dr Larch Maxey, one of three people who had been occupying another tunnel under Stoneness Road in the Grays area. Police had kept Stoneness Road closed since Tuesday out of concern for public safety.  Dr Laxey featured in this Thurrock Nub News story yesterday: Click here to read.

Christopher Bennett, a health care assistant from Bristol, who remains in the tunnel, said: "Those in power are letting energy companies rake in record profits while people are going hungry and losing their jobs because of the energy price crisis. At the same time the government plans to allow new fossil fuel projects which will only fuel climate breakdown and do nothing for our energy bills. 

"Not a single person in this government is behaving like the utter emergency we are in is real – and yet it is only weeks since we had 40 degrees Celsius – the highest temperature ever recorded and most of the UK and Europe is still facing unprecedented drought and crop failures. Just imagine what the next year will be like, never mind the next decade!

"Millions of people in the global south are suffering right now – from people starving in drought conditions in the horn of Africa to those who have lost everything in extreme flooding in Pakistan. These people have contributed very little to this escalating emergency. And it is young people in the UK who have also been totally betrayed by this government. 

"Join thousands of like-minded people who want social justice on the 1st October in Westminster – together we are going to make the Government end all new fossil fuels. Now is the time to resist the destruction of everything we love."