Environmental protests spark a mixed response in Calderdale towns

The protests, in Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge, were not without criticism, as social media debate about the protests showed, particularly in Todmorden where some campaigners blocked the main A646 Burnley Road in the town centre for a time.

Events were also held in seven other northern locations with the protests including groups from Friends of the Earth, Extinction Rebellion (XR), Save Rimrose Valley, Stockport Climate Action Group, Unison and Biofuel Watch.

The campaign says protests were “peaceful and creative” against trains carrying clear-felled trees headed for Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to be incinerated, the locations chosen being on the route.

Calderdale XR and Youth Strikers protested in Calderdale and blocking the road in Todmorden caused some heavy criticism on social media.

Critics said the protesters were not winning over people by stopping traffic at rush hour and could have caused issues for emergency vheicles – campaigners deny this would have been the case.

Campaigners said this was done where the railway bridge crossed the main road so as “to ensure that the damage that Drax is doing does not, like the train, pass over anyone’s head.”

Bob Walley, of Todmorden, said: “Nobody likes stopping traffic and upsetting people.

“But this is literally life and death. People are dying because of climate chaos.

“Burning trees is part of the problem, not the solution.”

Campaigners say Drax transports by rail imported wood chippings to burn at the power station and claim burning trees for energy is “greenwashing” not an environmental solution.

Caption guidance – pics OK to use, provided by Extinction Rebellion (XR) Calderdale