A GROUP of Brexiteers met at the service station on the A30 at Plusha on Friday afternoon to carry out a protest urging the government to make sure they are listening to those who voted ‘leave’ in the 2016 EU Referendum.

A group from Cornwall met at Plusha, in a range of vehicles to carry out the protest, which saw them travelling at deliberately slow speeds along the A30 to Truro, as part of the Brexit Direct Action’s series of protests. Meeting at 3.30pm, this protest caused disruption for those travelling from the Launceston direction further into North Cornwall.

Brexit Direct Action was holding a range of protests, including the very disruptive ‘Go Slow’ campaign, which involved pro-Brexit groups crawling along the main roads across the UK.

Before the protest, a Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of this matter currently being discussed on social media, and will continue to monitor before deciding what, if any action will need to be taken. Devon and Cornwall Police have been liaising with Highways England who are responsible for keeping our road network moving, and other relevant partners. We will deal with any unlawful obstruction or other motoring offences if they become apparent.”

According to police, who ‘engaged with organisers before the go slow began’, protesters ‘ignored’ their advice to stay in one lane and limit their speed to ‘no less than 45mph’. Instead, vehicles travelled in both lanes, creating five miles of tailback traffic around Bodmin, it is believed.

The protest was pulled over at Victoria, to which an update came from Insp Si Jenkinson via Twitter, who said: “My officers have stopped the front vehicles and will be prosecuting them for inconsiderate driving. We will be adopting the same approach on the M5 should drivers deliberately slow or stop traffic.

“We recognise the right to protest and make views clear but we will not tolerate careless and inconsiderate driving on our roads. We engaged with organisers before the go slow began, they ignored our advice to stay in lane 1 and limit speed to no less than 45mph.”

A police spokesperson added: “Two drivers were given Officer Seen Conditional Offers (OSCOs) for dangerous and inconsiderate driving for excessively slow speeds. These matters are now in the hands of the Magistrates.”

Brexit Direct Action is calling for a ‘clean Brexit from the EU in accordance with the 2016 EU referendum’. In an official response from the group via Twitter, they have said: “We are against the government’s withdrawal agreement — which is not Brexit.

“BDA/@ActionBrexit Group believe that our government should fulfil their manifesto and EU referendum pledge to exit the EU on 29th March with either an acceptable withdrawal agreement, or WTO managed exit. In anticipation of a delayed Brexit — or worse — government and pro-remain activists forcing a second referendum or stopping Brexit from happening altogether, we are building a large database of pro-Brexit supporters (voters) with the intention of providing block support for pro-Brexit candidates at the forthcoming local authority and possible EU elections.”

What are your thoughts on the protest? Did you get caught up in the road disruptions on Friday? Email [email protected]