Climate activists have deflated the tyres of scores of ‘gas guzzler” cars in Brighton overnight, to the dismay of residents.
The owner of one hybrid SUV – sports utility vehicle – which was targeted in Lowther Road, Fiveways, said her husband had been forced to cancel a hospital appointment as a result.
Iren Deep Brown said her neighbourhood WhatsApp group had been full of messages this morning from people who had gone to their cars to find a flyer on the windscreen telling them their tyres had been let down
And she said she was bemused as to why her part-electric vehicle had been targeted when the many older diesel camper vans in the area, which cause more pollution – had been left untouched.
Mrs Deep Brown said: “I understand they might have a problem with SUVs, but ours is a hybrid car which we rarely drive.
“We sold our diesel car and bought the hybrid to use to go on holiday. I use my very small, environmentally Fiat 500 to drive to work.
“The SUV is full of stuff that we are donating to a Ukranian charity appeal.
“I’m just really upset.”
She said she had reported the incident, which had left scratches on the new car, to the police.
A resident of Woodingdean, Mandy Wintle, said: “I went to take my daughter to school and couldn’t use my car. My husband took her to school while I went to pump my tyres up.
“I totally understand that people have their opinions but this is unacceptable. I could easily have had an accident from a punctured tyre.”
The group, which calls itself Tyre Extinguishers, told Brighton and Hove News it estimated it had “disarmed” about 200 vehicles in Hove, Woodingdean, Preston Park, Seven Dials, Withdean and East Brighton.
An anonymous spokesperson said: “We plan on doing this until it becomes impossible to own an SUV in urban areas all across the UK, and we believe many others will join us.”
It left flyers which included a link to a website, which said it had also targeted vehicles in posh areas of London, Bristol, Cambridge, Sheffield, Liverpool and Edinburgh.
The website quoted a member, Marion Walker, who said: “Governments and politicians have failed to protect us from these massive unnecessary vehicles.
“SUVs are a climate disaster, they cause air pollution and are dangerous for other road users.
“Everyone hates them, apart from the people who drive them.
“Politely asking for climate action, clean air and safer streets has failed. It’s time for action.”
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “On Tuesday morning (8 March) police received multiple reports from the Brighton area from members of the public who found the tyres on their cars had been deflated.
“It’s thought the vehicles in Balfour Road, The Drive, Lowther Road, Maldon Road and Newells Close were targeted during the early hours of the morning.
“Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone with information or who has video footage from the area which could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to police online or call 101 quoting serial number 111 of 08/03.”
“Politely asking for climate action, clean air and safer streets has failed. It’s time for action.”
Like breaking the law.
I wonder how these criminal morons determine which SUVs are classed as “gas guzzlers”?
The usual definition is something like “A sport utility vehicle or SUV is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.”.
My car is classed as an SUV by the manufacturer even though it is just 2 wheel drive, normal ground clearance, can’t be driven off road any more than any normal car, and is classed as ULEZ compliant with stop-start.
When I turned 18 years old many years ago, not only did I become a man; I became a REAL man.
If any eco-loon touches my motor, not only will they experience a small piece of Hell, they will also lose fingers on both hands…
are you a real man or a pretend man? I bet you’re not strong enough to pull your fingers off your own hands
Try me; will be by Clock Tower at 6pm this evening, if you’re man-enough to challenge me?
Once you’ve proven how manly you are by my aforementioned challenge
Hmmm….”Tyre Extinguishers”? Sounds like one big false flag operation to me….
Tyre Extinguishers. Like to have a word with them.
Must have been these morons who let the tyres down at Woodingdean some time ago on my seven seater. It’s a 1.3 diesel that throws out less emissions than the big 2.3 petrol it replaced.
Perhaps they missed that some seats were down and the vehicle was full of cleaning equipment. Perhaps they feel better knowing we had to arrange for TWO vehicles to come to collect staff and equipment so our jobs could be completed. Perhaps they feel even better knowing a young child was left in tears because mum was late picking them up from school due to this mindless vandalism.
I’m sorry this really is atrocious. Its criminal behaviour and could impact on some vulnerable people in the city if this is a mobility car or blue badge holder. I do not have a ‘gas guzzler’ but they are perfectly legal to buy and in theory the owners are penalized with increased parking permit fees and paying more money in fuel duty. This sort of action will turn people off of their cause just as it backfired on other groups like insulate Britain. Protest by all means but keep it legal.
Just vandals using a thin excuse to justify their jealousy of anyone more successful than themselves. Build more prisons. No SUVs in those…
So they believe in taking the law into their own hands. Wonder how they will feel if the car owner spots them and also takes the law into their own hands?
I also wonder how these eco-vandals will feel if they succeed? The council relies on tens of millions in revenue from motorists. Across the country, billions in tax revenues in excess of what is spent on roads. Without cars, many essential services would go.
As for myself, I’d like to switch to an electric car. But can’t due to poor on-street charging options. Around 250 public chargers for 100 thousand vehicles in the city. Pathetic!
Why can’t people campaign in positive ways to help rather than destroying?
Nick
We looked at electric or a Hybrid options, and decided neither were practical options at this time. Electric for the charging problems and the Hybrid just out our price range.
As a family vehicle we need a six seater and running a cleaning company doubles up as a van, four or five passengers takes away two vehicles as we can drop off on route and collect after.
Sadly these morons don’t think of the reason people use MPV’s etc and think they are all gas guzzlers. As I said in my earlier post, my 1.3 diesel is cleaner than my old 2.3 petrol.
They jdon’t have the brains to contemplate positive ways. They just love destruction. And they know, only too well, that with our pathetic judges, that, even if they get caught, they will just get a slap on the wrist.
All those complaining about law breaking need to remember that the suffragettes broke laws to effect change.
While I dont personally think this is reasonable, I can understand it. As all the scientists are telling us, we need to act now to prevent the climate disaster and these vehicle owners are selfishly emitting way more than every other car owner.
Hardly a fair comparison. We now have the vote. These protestors have the vote. If we all vandalised and acted illegally when we disagreed with someone or something then society would break down
As for these vehicle owners emitting so much, well why attack electric cars, hybrid cars, small petrol cars and disabled people’s lifelines? If their aim was to target SUVs it seems they have failed.
I agree that we need to change to prevent climate disaster. I’ve spent thousands insulating my home, changing to energy-efficient applicances/lighting, selecting an efficient car. I haven’t flown for over a decade (unlike our so-called green leaders!). So I am very much for sensible change. However, this vandalism doesn’t help. It harms rather than helps the climate cause. They need to be caught and prosecuted.
Absolutely, its reckless and vandalism which could cause a serious accident and they won’t be around to clean up the mess or pay for the damages. These so call warriors like to profile themselves as modern day suffragettes this is plain BS and makes me sick. They want to force their opinions on others. What next they’ll be banging on your door saying you need to turn your lights off because they think you have too many on; OMG these people are the though Nazi’s….. oh no, wait lets just conveniently cancel everything. The statement “these vehicle owners are selfishly emitting way more than every other car owner” is pathetic and laughable . What’s are you comparing this to and on what basis. Things like how often and how far need to be taken into consideration …
Well, they can always follow the example of one of the suffragettes, by running in front of a race horse.
Better still, they should jump in front of a moving SUV. That will give them a bit of publicity.
Except for a few exceptions there’s simply no reason to drive around town in an oversized and overweight vehicle other than for fashion or some selfish status symbol. A heavier vehicle has a bigger footprint and is more dangerous so it’s pretty criminal that car manufacturers have been allowed free reign to promote them. If only people who bought them for those reasons weren’t so gullible or selfish.
I wonder if its the same climate change activists that leave loads of rubbish on Hove Lawns opposite me. This is a criminal act and should be jailable. These people jump on any protest band wagon who are basically against the state. Arrest them if they are on state benefits remove them.
But cars run on petroleum, not gas? I haven’t seen many places that sell autogas
Good on the eco warriors. We all need to stand up to what we believe in. In last 12 months I have protested to ban statues. Ban private schools. Ban second homes. Ban high salaries. Ban high gas prices. Ban fox hunting. Ban tories. Ban masks. Stand up people.
How about banning breathing, while you are at it? And you could set a good example by being one of the first to follow the ban.
And you are absolutely clean then? Totally blameless, have an opinion that is unquestionably correct and wants to deny everyone a free choice unless it’s your choice?
Letting out air from tyres causes pollution from the chemical particles in rubber that have compromised the air stored in the tyres! You are making matters worse! Apart from the emissions that will be emitted in repairing the damage of your activity and lives disrupted and even lost as a result of your ignorance tyre exterminators cause emissions from vehicles that are not even running. Mindless!
Before they carry on damaging people’s cars to so called “protect the environment” could they just pop over to Russia and have a quick word with Putin. Those rockets he’s using aren’t environmentally friendly. As for the pollution that his tanks and APC’s are kicking out is quite shocking. I’m sure he would be glad to listen to your concerns. You may actually convince him to stop his illegal invasion of Ukraine untill all his military equipment is ULEZ complaint. I’m sure the people of Ukraine will appreciate your efforts.
Sorry, what’s that I hear you say? You can’t handle a real challenge instead of sneaking around at night letting tyres down! Touch my SUV and I will be forced to protect my property using what I deem as reasonable force. I’m disabled and can’t drive a conventional car due to it being too low down. I got my disabilitie through serving my country. You need to think about who your targeting. Have you fools got jobs, I can’t imagine anyone who has sneaking around at time without having to get up fo work on the morning. Also how are you getting around to all thee places. I bet your not using public transport or walking/riding everywhere! Shock, horror…. Are you using a car to get around to do all this damage?
A note for any one wishing to protect their tyres from being deflated. Halfords do a set of locking valve caps.£15
All these lunatic groups such as BLM, Antifa, Extinction rebellion and all the rest of the unelected scum that thinks they have a right to tell us how to live and to commit criminal acts aren’t anti-government, but government-sponsored, which is why none of them get to spend as much as a day behind bars.
It’s a pity they don’t spend a day at work. Come to think of it, who would want to employ the scum? And it is time we had a moratorium on political correctness and “woke”, and all those idiots promoting them.