Greenpeace activists target Wimbledon BP petrol pumps (From Your Local Guardian)

Greenpeace activists target Wimbledon BP petrol pumps

11:43am Tuesday 27th July 2010

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Green activists shut down the pumps at a Wimbledon petrol station this morning in a protest aimed at oil company BP.

Three campaigners from Greenpeace tampered with equipment at the BP Connect station on Kingston Road - although petrol supplies are now believed to have been restored.

The organisation said it had acted to highlight the company’s dangerous practices after the Gulf of Mexico disaster - but a BP spokesman accused them off putting staff and drivers at risk.

The campaigners flicked a switch at the pumps to turn off the flow of oil at about 6am, then stole the switches and moved on to other petrol stations across London.

Graham Thompson, a spokesman for Greenpeace, said the company was embarking on projects that risked serious environmental damage in its quest to find new oil resources - including deep water drilling and the targetting of the Arctic and Canadian tar sands.

He said the switches from dozens of petrol stations raided across London would be handed in to a Camden police station later today.

But a BP spokesman said: “They’re putting at risk site owners and motorists. We are doing our best to put things right.” Staff at the petrol station have been told not to speak to the media.

Have you visited the petrol station this morning? Tell us the latest by emailing cburnett@london.newsquest or calling 020 8330 9534.

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