Extinction Rebellion protesters outside County Hall for Spaceport meeting (Image: Simon Heester)
By Gayle McDonald,
Published by Cornwall Live, 26 November 2019
Protesters threw paper airplanes into the council chamber
Police were called to a council meeting in Cornwall this afternoon after “chaos” ensued following a key vote.
Councillors today agreed a controversial grant of millions of pounds towards Cornwall’s Spaceport project.
After deciding not to defer a decision, councillors voted to grant £10.32m of capital funding to the spaceport by 66 to 34, with one abstention.
The gallery then erupted with chants as protesters launched paper airplanes.
The chamber was then cleared of councillors and the meeting adjourned as the crowds continued to chant and shouted at councillors as they left saying things like “shame on you”.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were called to the scene at 2.05pm.
They said the force received reports that a small number of protesters had disrupted the meeting.
The force spokesperson added that no offences had been committted.
A police officer remained at the scene at 3.15pm and was talking to the protesters.
Protesters from campaign group Extinction Rebellion and others opposed to the Spaceport project, which would involve Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit starting horizontal launch of satellites, gathered outside County Hall ahead of the crunch meeting.
See: Original Article
