'Santa' causes road chaos
Discussion
www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/8205590?source=PA
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'Santa' causes road chaos
17 December 2003
A protester dressed as Father Christmas today caused travel chaos after he climbed over a busy road to demonstrate about fathers' rights.
The man scaled a gantry sign above the A40 near Wood Lane in north London at about 4am, creating long tailbacks for commuters heading in and out of the capital.
Scotland Yard said officers were attempting to coax him down.
AA Roadwatch said the A40 had to be shut several times as the demonstrator moved back and across the gantry, although traffic was currently moving slowly in both directions
The protester is supporting direct action group Fathers 4 Justice which has held a series of stunts in recent months to protest at the treatment of fathers in the family courts.
The man, who has not been named, is a lorry driver from north London who is understood to have had custody problems with his two children.
Fathers 4 Justice described him as a "wildcat" protester, who was acting independently of an official Father Christmas demonstration by the group in central London this Friday.
A spokesman said: "We understand how he feels. Christmas is a very difficult time for fathers who are separated from their kids.
"But we urge him, for his own safety and for that of the commuters, to come down and join us in our official protest against the people who are really to blame - the Government."
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Was it rearly necessary to close the A40?
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'Santa' causes road chaos
17 December 2003
A protester dressed as Father Christmas today caused travel chaos after he climbed over a busy road to demonstrate about fathers' rights.
The man scaled a gantry sign above the A40 near Wood Lane in north London at about 4am, creating long tailbacks for commuters heading in and out of the capital.
Scotland Yard said officers were attempting to coax him down.
AA Roadwatch said the A40 had to be shut several times as the demonstrator moved back and across the gantry, although traffic was currently moving slowly in both directions
The protester is supporting direct action group Fathers 4 Justice which has held a series of stunts in recent months to protest at the treatment of fathers in the family courts.
The man, who has not been named, is a lorry driver from north London who is understood to have had custody problems with his two children.
Fathers 4 Justice described him as a "wildcat" protester, who was acting independently of an official Father Christmas demonstration by the group in central London this Friday.
A spokesman said: "We understand how he feels. Christmas is a very difficult time for fathers who are separated from their kids.
"But we urge him, for his own safety and for that of the commuters, to come down and join us in our official protest against the people who are really to blame - the Government."
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Was it rearly necessary to close the A40?
Imagine the public outcry if either:
a, The A40 wasn't closed, he slipped, fell and was hit by mutliple cars still driving along the road.
b, The road is closed, PC Plod wanders up to arrest him and in the ensuing altercation, one of them falls and breaks their neck on the road below.
Then imagine how long the road would have been closed for under those circumstances.
Now, how the guy was able to get up there in the first place, or how on earth he thinks this will get positive publicity for his cause are other questions...
Edited due to unintended accusing tone of post.
>> Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 17th December 13:31
a, The A40 wasn't closed, he slipped, fell and was hit by mutliple cars still driving along the road.
b, The road is closed, PC Plod wanders up to arrest him and in the ensuing altercation, one of them falls and breaks their neck on the road below.
Then imagine how long the road would have been closed for under those circumstances.
Now, how the guy was able to get up there in the first place, or how on earth he thinks this will get positive publicity for his cause are other questions...
Edited due to unintended accusing tone of post.
>> Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 17th December 13:31
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