Just Stop Oil activists target site in Tyburn - motorists advised to avoid the area

West Midlands Police have asked motorists to avoid roads in Tyburn because they are dealing with an incident at a site targeted by environmental activists Just Stop Oil.

Several oil terminals have suspended operations across the country after access roads were blocked by the environmental group.

ExxonMobil UK, one of the country’s largest privately-owned underground oil pipeline distribution networks, confirmed demonstrations were under way at some of its sites on Friday.

Six people at the protest in Tyburn have been arrested this afternoon.

The roads affected in Birmingham are Wood Lane, Bromford Lane and Tyburn Road - near the Esso Petroleum fuel station.

Police issued a statement saying: “We’re currently responding to activists at a site in Tyburn, Birmingham.

“We are working to deal with this as quickly as possible. Delays are expected this morning on the following roads: Wood Lane, Bromford Lane, Tyburn Road.

“We ask people travelling to avoid the area if possible.”

Activists are sitting on roads preventing tankers from leaving the sites.

It listed seven of the locations as:

– Inter Terminals UK, Grays, Essex

– Navigator Terminals Thames, Grays, Essex

– Buncefield oil depot, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

– Esso Birmingham Fuel Terminal, Birmingham, West Midlands

– Esso West London Terminal near Heathrow Airport, west London

– BP’s Hamble Oil Terminal, Southampton, Hampshire

– ExxonMobil’s Hythe Terminal, Southampton, Hampshire

A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said: “We have crews in attendance at this incident on Tyburn Road, Birmingham, available to support our colleagues at West Midlands Police, if needed.”

What have Just Stop Oil said?

Just Stop Oil said in a statement: “The Just Stop Oil coalition is demanding an end to the Government’s genocidal policy of expanding UK oil and gas production and is calling on all those outraged at the prospect of climate collapse and suffering from the cost-of-living crisis to stand with us.

“Ordinary people can no longer afford oil and gas, it’s time to Just Stop Oil.

“It’s funding war and killing people in the global South, while destroying the future for young people everywhere.”

ExxonMobil UK wrote on Twitter: “Small protests are currently underway outside our Hythe, Birmingham and West London fuel terminals.

“While we respect the right to peaceful protest, our priority is the safety of our people, our neighbours, the protestors and our operations.

“We are working with the police to ensure that safety is maintained.”

The firm said it had temporarily suspended operations at the locations mentioned, but its other terminals at Purfleet and Avonmouth were not affected.

Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted Premier League football matches by running onto the pitch and tying themselves to goalposts in recent weeks.

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