Fuel pump protest follows Cromarty Firth oil rig occupation as Ross activists maintain 'climate emergency' pressure
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
GREENPEACE activists from Ross-shire whose Cromarty Firth protest delayed an oil rig heading for North Sea operations took to the streets of the Highland capital to reinforce their concerns.
The protest outside the BP petrol station in Inverness followed the occupation of the Transocean rig in the Cromarty Firth as part of a campaign to highlight concerns about a "climate catastrophe".
Black Isle-based Jo Paterson handed over a letter to a local BP manager during the weekend event.
She said afterwards: "The protest outside BP in Inverness was one of 28 held at BP petrol stations across the UK in solidarity with the activists preventing the Paul B. Loyd JR oil rig reaching its destination in the Vorlich oil field.
"It was a good humoured, peaceful protest with about 25 participants. There were five police in attendance throughout, also in good humour. Although the manager had kindly sectioned off an area within the petrol station for us to use in anticipation of our arrival, it was never the intention to impede business in any way and the protestors remained on the pavement outside.
"The level of local support we have received, both at the petrol station and from the residents of Cromarty during the action, has been overwhelming and very much appreciated."
The Vorlich field is said to contain an estimated 30 million barrels of oil.
The Greenpeace letter said: "BP and the rest of the oil industry are fuelling a climate emergency. The bottom line is we already have too much oil and gas in production or under development to meet the objectives of the Paris agreement.
"Drilling for yet more might temporarily keep BP's share price up but it will cost countless more lives and cause climate catastrophe. BP must stop the expansion of their oil and gas business and transition to renewables or hand back capital to shareholders."
BP was contacted for comment on the protest but did not respond.
It previously branded the oil rig occupation "reckless" and claimed it put both protesters and others in danger. It said the campaign group had ignored court orders sought to prevent further action.
