Wivenhoe Bike Kitchen closing for Extinction Rebellion protest

Jo Wheatley and Jay Pettitt, from the Wivenhoe Bike Kitchen, are closing their shop to be a part of the final two days of Extinction Rebellions protest dubbed ‘The Big One’, or ‘United to Survive’.

In January, Extinction Rebellion UK dropped a large banner from Westminster Bridge to mark the beginning of a 100-day countdown to the peaceful protest on climate change.

In January, Extinction Rebellion UK dropped a large banner from Westminster Bridge to mark the beginning of a 100-day countdown to the peaceful protest on climate change (Image: Extinction Rebellion)

The group is expecting thousands of people on the streets of Westminster over the four days from April 21 to 24.

A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion added: “Gathering at the Houses of Parliament day after day in large numbers in April means we can leave the locks, glue and paint behind and instead demonstrate faith in a critical mass of people to create a moment impossible to ignore.”

Jo and Jay set up the community bicycle workshop in the town ten years ago, to help “demystify bike maintenance” and “teach practical skills”.

However, the bike kitchen is taking what it called an “unusual step” of closing Sunday, April 23 and Monday, April 24 so it can join in at the Unite to Survive event in Westminster.

Fix up - the Wivenhoe Bike Kitchen is typically open twice weekly (Image: N/A)

Jo said: “We are a voluntary run project open twice a week, Sunday afternoon and Monday evenings, and are open all year round so wouldn’t normally close.

“It was a difficult decision and we discussed it for a while and on the balance of things it is more important going up to the event.

“The UK’s traffic-dominated streets create a hostile environment, contribute to poor health and inactivity and are impeding efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

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“It’s an unprecedented event, with national organisations, international businesses, social and civil rights groups and more all taking part.

“This is why we feel pushed into going and protesting peacefully, and that’s key, it is peaceful.

“Extinction Rebellion has worked to organise road closures with the police and liaise with the London Marathon to make sure it’s done in a supportive way.

“There have been warnings from the UN, scientists and world leaders, it’s not fair to cover up with our head in the sand any longer.”