Leapers Wood Quarry, Carnforth, 27 March 2017. Photo: Reclaim the Power
In this update of protests about fracking and the onshore oil and gas industry:
- Reclaim the Power’s Breaking the Chain protest at fracking supply companies
- 50 villagers joined protest against oil drilling near Billingshurst, W Sussex
- Bez, of the Happy Mondays, visits Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site
- Cycle protest
- Lock-on at A E Yates
This post will be updated with new activities.
1 April 2017
Billingshurst, West Sussex
More than 50 local people took part in a protest in Billingshurst against plans to explore for oil nearby at Broadford Bridge. The event, supported by opponents of onshore drilling from across the Weald, comes as Kimmeridge Gas and Oil Ltd prepares to drill at the site at Wood Barn Farm. Latest DrillOrDrop post
Ian Gammie, Chairman of the Adversane Residents’ Association, said:
‘The community has not been informed enough by either the oil company, the local Parish Council or West Sussex County Council. If it wasn’t for leaflets from Keep Billingshurst Frack Free posted through the door, most residents wouldn’t even know about the site. We did a survey recently about issues affecting the area, and asked 36 residents what they thought about fracking: 20 said they were against it, two were for it and the rest needed more information. That says it all.”
“In the last couple of weeks, we’ve found out that UKOG have taken over the site, but we don’t know what they’ve actually got permission to do. You’d think given that we are the residents who will have drilling on our doorstep, we should be told. We want to know how we’ll be affected by the drilling, but we’re not getting any answers. There hasn’t been enough consultation on safety generally. I would like the company to share the details of what they intend to do at the site. Surely they have a social responsibility to let locals know.”
Keep Billingshurst Drill Free, 1 April 2017. Photo: Jon O’Houston
Keep Billingshurst Drill Free, 1 April 2017. Photo: Jon O’Houston
Keep Billingshurst Drill Free, 1 April 2017. Photo: Jon O’Houston
Keep Billingshurst Drill Free, 1 April 2017. Photo: Jon O’Houston
Keep Billingshurst Drill Free, 1 April 2017. Photo: Jon O’Houston
Keep Billingshurst Drill Free, 1 Apirl 2017. Photo: Jon O’Houston
UK Investor Show, London
Activists with an anti-fracking slogan painted on their backs took part in a demonstration at the UK Investor Show in protest at Union Jack Oil’s stand. The “naked truth” protest was part of Reclaim the Power’s Break the Chain protest.
One of the participants said:
“We have put our bodies in the way today, to protest the work of Union Jack Oil in furthering the fracking industry and to disrupt their reputation.
“UJO has been exploring for unconventional oil and gas and doing field development work for possible future fracking sites in the UK for the past two years.
“Whilst they regularly attempt to disguise their actions behind legal jargon, they have used flow testing and acid fracturing to develop the case for unconventional oil and gas extraction, either by them or another company. It is essentially gateway drilling.”
Video: https://www.pscp.tv/w/1lPKqZLNVjQGb
Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Lancashire
Gordon Marsden at Preston New Road, 1 April 2017. Photo: Fylde Constituency Labour Party
Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden meets residents opposing fracking on the Fylde at Preston New Road. He tells the Blackpool Gazette:
“I wanted to go down to the site on Preston New Road to see for myself what was happening – there were lots of drivers beeping their support in opposition to what Cuadrilla are doing.
“It is completely wrong of the Government to ignore local democracy and the wishes of people in Lancashire by allowing Cuadrilla to frack despite the strong opposition to it.”
31 March 2017
A E Yates depot, Bolton
Reclaim the Power activists from Lancashire shut down A E Yates’ depot in Bolton, the works contractor for Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road fracking site. Two women were arrested.
Lock-on protest at A E Yates, Bolton, 31 March 2017. Photo: River Rain
Lock-on protest at A E Yates, Bolton, 31 March 2017. Photo: River Rain
30 March 2017
Eddie Stobart depots in Warrington
Activists blockaded two premises in Warrington of the Eddie Stobart haulage firm in protest at deliveries to the Preston New Road fracking site. Two men were arrested.
Lock-on protest, 30 March 2017. Photo: Eddie Thornton
Blockade, 30 March 2017. Photo: Cheryl Atkinson
29 March 2017
Centrica HQ, Windsor
Reclaim the Power party at Centrica HQ for chief executive, Iain Conn, 29 March 2017. Photo: Emily Connor
Reclaim the Power said a group of anti-fracking campaigners held a party for Centrica’s chief executive, Iain Connor, at the company’s head office, to mark his £1.4m bonus.
The event was part of Reclaim the Power’s Break the Chain protest against the supply chain of the fracking industry. One of the activists said:
“Without his company bankrolling fracking in Lancashire, the industry would be dead in the water.
“Fracking may be devastating to local communities and have no public backing, but kudos to Iain for sticking with it through the tough times. Going forward, we hope Centrica continues to profit from Lancashire’s sacrifices, and that you can use your millions to shield yourself from climate catastrophe.”
28 March 2017
Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Lancashire
Eight people took part in a lock-on protest outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site at Preston New Road.
Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Lancashire, 28 March 2017. Photo: Eddie Thornton
Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Lancashire, 28 March 2017. Photo: Eddie Thornton
Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Lancashire, 28 March 2017. Photo: Eddie Thornton
Leeds bus stops
Reclaim the Power placed satirical posters overnight at bus stops in Leeds as part of its Break the Chain protest. The posters, based on similar branding by Yorkshire Water, warning that liquid waste from the shale gas industry would come to the treatment works as Knostrop in Leeds.
George Calvert, from Reclaim the Power, said:
“Yorkshire Water’s most recent advertising campaign has refered to clean water as a ‘liquid birthright’ but we know this could be threatened if the Knostrop treatment works accepts fracking fluid. That’s why we decided to do some extra advertising for them and let people around Leeds know what could be on the way. There’s currently no fracking in the UK, and Yorkshire Water and FCC Environment can cut ties with the industry now before it gets started to help protect the people of Leeds and the global climate”.
27 March 2017
Leapers Wood Quarry, Carnforth, Lancashire
Leapers Wood Quarry, Carnforth, 27 March 2017. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Reclaim the Power said members of anti-fracking group, Bristol Rising Tide, blocked the entrances to a Lancashire quarry, used by Aggregate Industries, a supplier to Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road shale gas site near Blackpool. The 11-hour blockade, using swings on the height barriers, led to queues of lorries attempting to go to the quarry. Reclaim the Power said two people had been arrested.
Leapers Wood Quarry, Carnforth, 27 March 2017. Photo: Kristian Buus
This was the first day of a scheduled fortnight of action by Reclaim the Power called Break the Chain, aimed at the supply chain of the shale gas industry.
The Bay website reported that Morecambe and Lunesdale MP, David Morris, said:
“I condemn in the strongest terms this irresponsible intimidation of companies and road users trying to go about their lawful business and get on with their daily lives. The Police have a difficult enough time without having to devote resources to manage people from outside the area who are wasting everyone’s time and standing in the way of jobs and opportunity for local people.”
The Bristol Post reported on 5 April 2017 that a Edward Crawley from Bristol is due to appear before Blackpool Magistrates Court on 12 June, charged with aggravated trespass. A 40-year-old woman, also from Bristol, was arrested on suspicion of obstruction and disrupting a person engaged in lawful activity but was later released without charge.
Bez visits Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Lancashire
Bez, the dancer and maracas player with the Happy Mondays, visited Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site near Blackpool.
Bez, World of Water, nr Preston New Road, 27 March 2017. Photo: Steve Spy
Bez with Tina Rothery, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton 27 March 2017. Photo: Steve Spy
Video by the Blackpool Gazette:
23 March 2017
A E Yates, Bolton
A E Yates, Bolton, 23 March 2017. Photo taken from video by River Rain
Opponents of fracking took part in a lock-on protest outside the entrance of A E Yates, the site construction contractor for Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road, shale gas site.
The protesters unlocked themselves after five hours and received a warning from police.
D Morgan, Ellesmere Port
Protest outside civil engineering firm, D Morgans, Hooton, Ellesmere Port.
D Morgan, Ellesmere Port, 23 March 2017. Photo: Leo Dobbs
D Morgan, Ellesmere Port, 23 March 2017. Photo: Leo Dobbs
22 March 2017
Reclaim the cycle lane protest, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Lancashire
Anti-fracking campaigners took part in a cycle ride, called On Yer Bike, Cuadrilla, to protest about the shale gas site at Preston New Road and the loss of the cycle lane.
Preston New Road, Lancashire, 22 March 2017. Photo: Ros Wills
Preston New Road, Lancashire, 22 March 2017. Photo: Ros Wills
Preston New Road, Lancashire, 22 March 2017. Photo: Ros Wills
21 March 2017
Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Lancashire
Lorry leaving the Preston New Road site, 21 March 2017. Photo: from a video by Refracktion (see below)
Opponents of operations at Cuadrilla’s shale gas site complained as an articulated lorry failed to negotiate the exit to the site. There had also been complaints about mud on the road from the site. On 23 March, Lancashire County Council announced it was reducing the speed limit on Preston New Road from 50mph to 30mph and then 20mph outside the site.
Video by Refracktion:
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Categories: Opposition
DRILL OR DROP? 
Bez is the best advert for the anti movement. The ‘thinking mans’ antifracker! (snigger…) More please Bez! You always impress with your erudite destruction of the technology with your well thought out points.
Ah time for that good ol saying…. Scraping the barrel.
Not long till Rinder gives us his verdict!
The refraction video is interesting.
The lorry has room to exit the site, and no doubt easier for him if there were not so many people in his way. Approaching the kerb he has to stop due to the people milling around in front of him. On re start, he goes slightly too fast, and with less weight on the front wheels they do not grip and the lorry heads towards the kerb. It does not attempt to mount it. It stops and at the same time police intervene. A quick short reverse and off it goes. I would say the amount of people milling around had a lot to do with it.
The mud on the road would not pass comment around where i live as farming puts lots more than that slight amount down each day. Good to see a road cleaner, very rare elsewhere, and lots more mud.
i suppose people see what they want to see, i was there, you can see me on the video and i know that the lorry did go onto the pavement
Hrb. Thanks. It was viewed on a mobile phone, so I will look at the bigger picture. The still shot above shows his from weeks well in line to miss the pavement, but his restart looks to have caused the tractor unit to go towards the pavement. Looks like the front wheels lifted. I guess the lorry driver was surprised!
hewes62. The video may show the lorry stopping at the kerb. The point is the kerb is on the OTHER aside of the road. Lorries leaving the site are requiring the police to stop the traffic in the opposite lane so that they can use BOTH lanes of the road. This is an industrial site which will require thousands of HGV movements. Do Cuadrilla expect the police to be around to facilitate their traffic movements for the full duration of the site, which according to the farmer has an option of 40 years? It’s not the protectors who are to blame for this ridiculous situation.
Pauline. Thanks. Firstly i do not wish to blame protestors.
In respect to the situation can only compare it with similar industrial activity locally… some 900M from the village, where a biofuels power station is being built. It will burn primarily bonemeal and and other animal waste. Construction traffic, similar to that shown on the video has been entering and leaving the site for some months. The larger loads, similar to the one shown have crossed to the other carriageway to enter and exit the site. These loads have typically been power station parts and the larger cranes. Once built there will be a constant stream of large lorries and LPG tankers accessing the site, for years to come. For these large, but normal movements, the site access is wide enough for them to access the road without crossing to the opposite carriageway. During the construction period, no police have been present to manage traffic, this was done by site staff as and when required. The road is not an A road, therefore the density of traffic is less than
The long term solution would seem to be a wider entrance to get round the problem. The video would be a good lesson learned for planners I guess in terms of site access dimensions.
“The long term solution would seem to be a wider entrance to get round these problems. The video would be a good lesson learned for planners I guess in terms of site access dimensions.”
For a multi million pound undertaking which has been at least 4 years in the planning it seems very remiss of all concerned to be in the position of having to ‘learn lessons in terms of site access dimensions.’ Cuadrilla were told quite explicitly at the Public Inquiry that this road would be unsafe for their proposals but they and Sajid Javid chose to ignore this fact. Considering Cuadrilla’s 100% failure rate for their operations in the Fylde in the last 6 years it really comes as no surprise that once again they appear to be using the Fylde as guinea pigs for their trial and error business. The operative word being ‘error.’ There have already been a multitude of breaches of conditions on this site and fracking has not yet begun. Meanwhile LCC and the other regulatory bodies are turning a blind eye in their desperation to comply with government orders. It really gives one faith in the much trumpeted Gold Standard Regulations!
We said NO some people didn’t listen . The decent sentient people in this country have done their research and will not allow this unviable , polluting industry to destroy our health and environment
Give the whole high horse nonsense a rest Eliza.
When was the election Eliza?
Better a high horse than a dead duck.
Who was elected Anonymous?
Down to the “D” List “celebs” now!
Reminds me of my student days when we persuaded a stripper to join us on our fund raising float by telling her the press would be around and it would help her career. We raised a lot of money for goods causes, and she disappeared back to her day (night) job afterwards (don’t think her career was helped, but it was all good fun, and the locals were amused.) The world goes on, and nothing changes.
And that shows exactly what can be expected by such an attitude, exploitation and lies to get what is wanted, all in good fun of course?? Except this time the locals are not amused and nor is anyone else.
Perhaps you could employ a (by that i mean pay for, not con into a freebee…try legitimate expenses?) stripper to attend each site……just for fun of course……The “F” List “non-celebs” in their razor wire confinement cages might be amused, perhaps she (i presume you do mean a she?) had better stay on the outside of the razor wire cage where its safer, but i doubt anyone else would be amused, they would be more concerned at the sexual exploitation of women and the misogynistic attitude of the exploiters [edited by moderator]
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The arguments about facts and science are gone, and the agenda has changed. I suspect this will continue until some exploration has actually happened and shown that there is a resource that can be developed.
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I would like to keep my life, the health of my family and everyone else’s lives and health too, that is why this filthy disgusting industrial practice must be refused. Your industry needs to be flushed away, [edited by moderator]
Better be careful Martin – SafetyCatch has admitted to being Mrs. PhilC – although I suspect it is one and the same poster…
leave me out of it, i’m just watching this guy dig himself deeper and deeper into his own hole. i’d have found an excuse to take the dog for a walk by now.
No arial shot? Those were very good just to show how much land and little progress Caudrilla made in the face of protesters.
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So, the debate about facts and science is alive? Someone should have mentioned that to the Green MEP who just appeared on Daily Politics to counter Ineos. If that is the best job that can be done from your side, there is no contest. Don’t expect the exploration companies to keep being polite and not exposing the obvious ignorance. But, I suspect she will be trotted out again at some event to show the intellectual support for the cause, before she collects her redundancy money from Brussels!
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Back to the subject however which is Protest update: 20 March-2 April 2017, something you haven’t even mentioned yet by the way…….why do you think people protest against it? Is Fracking and the oil and gas industry generally unimpeachable, perfect, whiter than white clean and tidy and obeys all the rules and is a boon to the environment and climate change?
No! not by a long drill. The process not only has ravaged countries across the world, depleted aquifers poisoned water and rivers, poured methane by the millions of tons into the atmosphere and destroyed peoples homes farms and livelihoods and destroyed their health.
More and more is being revealed about these events every day, in spite of political corruption and non disclosure contracts.
The industry has shown a contempt and disregard for any planning regulation, “gold standard regulations” that do not seem to exist, and even if such a thing did exist, the industry has shown even in this early stage in UK, that it has no intention or motivation to operate by any rules except dirty ones.
The whole process stinks to high heaven, something that was amply demonstrated recently, perhaps that was a precursor of the stinks yet to come, then everyone will smell the rot.
You can pass that on to your “F” list “non-celebs” behind their razor wire confinement cages too
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“Ravaged countries”??? “Whole process stinks to high heaven”. Pretty factual stuff. Strange that when any individual [edited by moderator] requests proof, it is only to be found in Giggle Land along with a multitude of other “facts” that can not be substantiated. [Edited by moderator]
[Edited by moderator].
Yes, ravaged countries due to fracking, look at the real evidence on any critical examination of the facts of the industry, not to mention court cases following poisoned water supplies, and yes, it stinks to high heaven.
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