Environmental protection campaign group Extinction Rebellion has arrived at the private stately home of the Duke of Buccleuch in protest against the landowner’s plans for a 400,000ft2 plus industrial and logistics scheme in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
It was reported that around 50 activists arrived at the Broughton Estate to demonstrate against the proposals which have been altered due to backlash. Campaigners are continuing to fight the proposals because an area of green space and walking routes could still be lost.
If approved, the development will also result in the loss of a sizeable wildflower meadow, negatively impacting local wildlife and ecosystems.
The application by Buccleuch Property, went in on 3 March 2020 and by 19 April 2020, a full-blown campaign to stop the development known as Save Weekley Hall Wood – featuring campaigners from Extinction Rebellion, the Green Party, Labour, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Kettering Eco Group was in full swing with Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts as well as a Change.org petition. Around 21,000 people have now objected but plans have not been withdrawn.
An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson told the local press that they had a mandate to defend Weekley Hall Wood and would prepare themselves for direct action when construction starts on site.