Wind turbine waterfront blockade

Former Vestas workers are struggling to find work, a sacked workers said

A group of protesters is staging a blockade outside a closed wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight to stop its wind turbine blades being removed.

Danish firm Vestas recently shut its Newport and Southampton sites, with the loss of 425 jobs. It sparked a sit-in by 11 workers who were then sacked.

About 20 people waited at the marine gates for the remaining blades to be transferred on to a barge on the river.

Police are monitoring the protest. Vestas was not available for comment.

Island's economy

A sacked Vestas worker, who is among the protesters, said: "We want Vestas to re-instate all the workers including the 11 that were sacked so we can get some redundancy.

"I don't think they realise what impact this will have on the Isle of Wight [economy].

"I have spoken to half a dozen workers who have still not found work. We have got families, too."

Hampshire police have shut off a footpath running alongside the river, which it says, is "part of Vestas property".

They said 13 people suspected of having committed or about to commit aggravated trespass - relating to the footpath - had been given a warning.

About 20 people including a sacked Vestas worker are outside the plant

A spokesman said: "These protesters left the area voluntarily and peacefully [and] no arrests were made.

"A number of items of property were seized and secured at the scene of the protest to prevent loss or damage."

The force described its policing of the demonstration as "proportionate" to "ensure the Vestas workers are able to move the blades unobstructed".

There have been a number of protests since the 11 Vestas workers first staged their 19-day sit-in in July.

That event was followed by an 11-day rooftop demonstration at the Venture Quays building in Cowes, by activists protesting at the closure of the island factory.

Then climate activists erected a huge tripod to stop wind turbine blades being removed from the closed Newport site on 10 September.

Three people were charged with aggravated trespass following a protest at Southampton Docks, where wind turbine blades were being loaded, last Thursday.

Vestas has blamed the closure of its plants on a lack of demand for wind turbines in the UK.