222 ECOLOGICAL campaigners named in a High Court injunction led by Thurrock Council are to pay 50 per cent of the council's legal costs under a new ruling.

The campaigners who have all been linked to protests in Thurrock in support of the JustStopOil movement were named in the injunction, which is intended to stop protests at borough fuel terminals and pivotal road network popints.

As well as ordering the protesters to pay costs - the new ruling also means the injunction will be in force until next year.

Last month the council was left somewhat-faced when it had to removed the full names and address of the 222 people named in the injunction from many points around the borough where they had been publically posted. That prompted the threat of legal action by the JustStopOil group against the the council who believe the council had breached a precedent set in previous court action meant to protect civil liberties. The council also redacted the addresses from material it had posted online.

Today (Wednesday, 1 June) the council issued the following statement: "An innovative injunction which prevents protestors from blocking roads and vehicles at key fuel terminals and filling stations in the borough has been extended to May 2023.

"The interim injunction was granted on 25 April 2022 following weeks of protests at oil terminals which saw Essex Police make 461 arrests and cost Essex Police, Thurrock Council and other partners more than £1 million. 

"The ruling last week means that the terms of the injunction will remain in place until at least May 2023. The judge also ordered that the 222 defendants named in the injunction pay 50% of costs between them, with each ordered to pay an equal sum.

"Under the terms of the injunction, protestors are prevented from blocking roads, stopping vehicles and gluing themselves to the road or vehicles. The injunction aims to prevent unnecessary disruption for local businesses and residents trying to access their premises, homes, petrol stations and travel near these sites. 

"Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill, said: "We are pleased that the judge has extended our injunction and that protestors will bear some of the costs it took for us to get these legal measures in place.

"The protests earlier this year caused considerable disruption for local residents and businesses as well as threatening vital fuel deliveries for the entire region. The innovative legal action taken by Thurrock Council, and our partners Essex County Council, completely prevents protestors from using the methods and tactics they employed to create this disruption."

"The full terms of the injunction are available online at: thurrock.gov.uk/protest-injunction".

The council has not said how much the protesters will have to pay or how much the legal action at the High Court has cost.