Kingsnorth gets protection order

Campaigners will protest about the proposed power station in August

The owners of Kingsnorth Power Station in Kent have been granted an injunction to protect the site's operational capacity during a planned protest.

E.ON said the High Court decision would "minimise the potential for incident and maximise the power station's ability to supply electricity".

Organisers of the Climate Camp event in August have said they want to force Kingsnorth power station to shut down.

The Camp for Climate Action is to be held from 3 to 12 August.

The protesters also plan to launch a flotilla of craft on the River Medway.

Graham Clarke, of E.ON UK, said: "Our prime concern is the safety of everybody at Kingsnorth power station, including anyone who tries to enter the site and interfere with operations.

"We're pleased that the court has placed the most important operational areas of our site under the protection of a pre-emptive injunction."

Mr Clarke added: "We completely respect the right of individuals to protest, as long as it's done peacefully and within the bounds of the law.

"I hope that, just as we respect the camp's right to demonstrate, they in turn will respect our right to operate and provide power for our customers' homes and businesses."

The first Camp for Climate Action, held at Heathrow Airport in August 2007, was attended by more than 1,000 protesters.

It required up to 1,800 police on busy days, with policing costs of more than �7m, according to Scotland Yard.

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