Climate activists are planning to mount a rush-hour blockade in Canterbury's city centre.

Extinction Rebellion, which wants the city council to declare a climate and ecological emergency, has organised the demonstration on Monday, May 20, as part of a "week of action."

They plan to block off Station Road West between 4pm and 6pm, bringing traffic to a halt, in an effort to draw attention to the global warming crisis and protest plans for a £9m multi-storey car park by Canterbury West rail station.

Keith Bothwell, one of the group's members, said: "We appreciate that this action will cause disruption and inconvenience, and apologise for this."

"But if we do not all act immediately to address the climate and ecological emergency, there will be catastrophic consequences for us all in the very near future."

A stark UN report last year warned that global leaders have only 12 years to limit a rise in global temperatures to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Unless this is achieved - requiring a 45% decline in CO2 emissions by 2030 - leading climate scientists say there will be "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society" with the risk of extreme heat, drought and floods across the world.

On Wednesday evening (May 22), the group will 'welcome' newly elected city councillors to their roles at a swearing in ceremony at the Guildhall.

A celebratory garden party is also being planned outside county hall in Maidstone on Thursday (May 23), when Kent County Council will discuss a motion on declaring a climate emergency.

Activists are planning to greet councillors entering the building with flowers and colourful banners.

A motion to commit to making Canterbury carbon neutral by 2030 was voted down at a policy and resources committee meeting last month, after Conservative councillors argued it would be "unfair" to "bind" the next council to the commitment just before the election.

Extinction Rebellion, whose activists have also glued themselves to the gates of Buckingham Palace and staged mass sit-ins at the entrance to Downing Street, wants the UK government to declare a climate emergency, make policy commitments for zero carbon by 2025 and create Citizens Assemblies across the country.

The group is also holding an open meeting at Friends Meeting House in the Friars on Saturday, between 10am and 1pm.

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