Scotland’s ‘biggest protest camp in a decade’ sets up near oil refinery

A climate camp expected to be Scotland’s biggest protest encampment in a decade has pitched up just one mile from an oil refinery.

Set up in Kinneil Park in Bo’ness, near Falkirk, community groups and climate activists assembled on Wednesday for a “people-powered festival of resistance”.

The camp is one mile away from the Ineos Kinneil Terminal in Grangemouth where oil and gas arrives from the North Sea.

Climate Camp Scotland said hundreds of people have registered to take part with participants representing India, the Netherlands and Ukraine as well as all corners of Scotland.

Dylan Welsh, a climate campaigner who is taking part in the camp, said: “It’s fantastic that Grangemouth has been chosen as the location for this year’s Climate Camp.

“It’s an opportunity for residents and the wider Falkirk community to come together and push back on Ineos’s polluting presence making it clear to Jim Ratcliffe that continuing to enrich himself at the expense of his workers and the planet is no longer an option.

“It’s a chance for Grangemouth to begin looking to a cleaner and healthier future free from the oil and gas giant.”

Jess Gaitan Johannesson, of Climate Camp Scotland, said: “Communities and workers will be coming together at our biggest ever climate camp to organise and take action in Grangemouth.

“We do not accept sky high bills, polluted air and a collapsing climate.

“This energy system is failing us, but Scotland and Grangemouth can transition to sustainable industry and jobs and we’re going to drive that change together.

“We invite everyone who can to take part: whether you just want to pop along to see what’s happening or to camp with us for the whole event. This camp will show how powerful we can be when we act together.”

The group say Ineos “refused” to participate in a parliamentary inquiry about transition at the Grangemouth site.

The company has been contacted for comment.