Lorry driver hits back at protesters after nightmare pollution following five hour traffic chaos.

A Havering lorry driver has hit back at protesters who have scaled the QEII bridge, telling them they have cause more pollution than the area has ever seen before.

Tom is a Havering based lorry driver who yesterday was caught like many other motorists in the traffic chaos caused by two protesters who have scaled the Queen Elizabeth bridge at the Dartford crossing.

“Five hours we waited yesterday, people sat in their cars and the pollution caused was incredible. I thought their whole objective was to stop harm to the planet? Don’t they realise they have caused an environmental nightmare here?

“I am against fossil fuels, I am against fracking, we can all see the oil companies and the huge profits they are making and how wrong that is. I agree that the government don’t listen to the vital changes that need to be done. But I think the majority of people do not agree with their methods now.”

Tom is fed up with the community taking the brunt of these protests.

“There are so many factors going on in people’s lives at the moment. We are all struggling to pay our bills. I have to work long hours and weekends to afford to live. The cost of living crisis has hit us all hard. People are already miserable at how our society is right now.

“These protesters target us, our community and that sadly has made them all extremely unpopular and has made the community lose all respect for them. Tell me how is it acceptable to stop an ambulance and a fire engine from getting through? Ambulances already struggle to arrive due to the cuts they have faced and they choose to stop them getting through?

“I saw last week a guy beg them to please move as his partner needed to get to hospital and they didn’t move. This right here is where they have lost the majority of people’s respect. We would all agree with them on these very vital issues, but their manner and method is so wrong that they have lost it.

“I saw them on social media throw paint on the sign at New Scotland Yard and at the Sunflower painting, apparently they justify that by saying it had a glass covering. I don’t have much free time due to my work but I love that painting as I know Van Gogh suffered with his mental health and that he painted that to bring some much needed sunshine in his life and now ours. It is the whole mentality behind their responses that is very sad.”

We asked Tom how he felt the climate crisis should be addressed.

“Everyone of us has a responsibility to make a much needed change to help our planet. I’m a lorry driver so it sounds crazy when i say walk when you can, but I always encourage my family to walk when possible. I have changed my washing to not use hot water as much as I know that impacts the planet and global warming. I recycle as much of my waste as I can, I try and buy sustainable clothes and I participated in tree planting events last year.

“If we all participate and educate children now, then we can make a difference. I try my best and I know there are lots more things I can do, but if we all keep working on it, the changes will come.

“Stopping people who are already stressed, de facing paintings, signs and statues are just media grabbing exercises. If they are climate activists, please come and support communities in making changes that are needed.”