13–person lock-on protest at Cuadilla’s Preston New Road shale as site, 3 July 2017. Photo: Kristian Buus for Reclaim the Power
In this week’s update on protests about fracking and the onshore oil and gas industry:
- 3 councillors join 13-person lock-on outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site at Preston New Road
- Lancashire Police investigate assault complaint against a security guard
- Ongoing demonstration and blockade outside Marriott Drilling in Chesterfield
- Public rally at Little Plumpton
- Demonstration outside North Lincolnshire Council where councillors again refused planning permission to Egdon for oil production at its Wressle site.
This post will be updated throughout the week. Please let us know about news you think DrillorDrop should be reporting on this post.
7 July 2017
Public demonstration, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton
Reclaim the Power said more than 150 people attended a public demonstration outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site at the end of its first week of a month-long Rolling Resistance.
6 July 2017
Postcard message, Preston New Road
Campaigners blockaded Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site with a postcard-style banner.
Photo: Cheryl Atkinson
5 July 2017
Car blockade of Lancashire shale gas site, Preston New Road
Photo: Kristian Buus for Reclaim the Power
Six campaigners from south west England blockaded the Preston New Road shale gas site. They locked themselves to a car and other heavy objects. They said their action was to raise awareness of the risk of fracking to the Springfields nuclear fuel production plan five miles away. Second half of DrillOrDrop report
Police investigation into assault complaint
Lancashire Police confirm an investigation is underway into a complaint that a security guard at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road assaulted a protester. DrillOrDrop report
4 July 2017
Assault allegation against security guard
Photo: Kritian Buus for Reclaim the Power
Protesters at Cuadrilla’s shale gas site allege a demonstrator was restrained and assaulted by security guards. DrillOrDrop
The incident came at the end of a 35-hour lock-on by Michelle Martin, who was part of a larger protest that began on 3 July 2017 (see below)
3 July 2017
13-person lock-on at Preston New Road
Three women councillors from Lancashire joined locals in a 13-person lock-on outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site. More details and pictures in DrillOrDrop report
Demolition of protest “tower”
Lancashire Police reported this evening on Facebook:
“You may be aware campaigners had built 2 “towers” at the entrance to the Fracking site on Preston New Road. One of the towers has been demolished and removed by police this evening under offences relating to obstruction of the highway. There is also a clear public safety concern with the towers due to campaigners climbing up and down them and their proximity to passing traffic.”
Demolition contractor, Pete Marquis, of Lea Town, Preston, commented on social media:
“We were hired by the police to remove one of the pallet tower/ houses erected by protestors at pnr [Preston New Road]”
One protester remains
By about 9pm, the police protester removal team had gone home leaving one of the protesters locked on for the night.
Remaining lock-on protester. Photo: Claire Stevo
Lancashire Police said Gina Dowing, of Lancaster, Nicholas Danby, Miranda Cox and Julie Brickles, of Preston, Nicholas Sheldrick, from Blackpool, Catherine Jackson, from Fleetwood, Daniel Huxley-Blythe and Jeanette Porter of St Annes, and Barbara Cookson, of Liverpool, were charged with obstructing a public highway and offences under Section 241 of the Trades Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act.
Blockade of Marriott Drilling, Clay Cross, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Anti-fracking campaigners maintained a blockade of the Marriott depot, which they believe will supply equipment to Cuadrilla’s shale gas site near Blackpool. Reports said only vehicle left the depot.
Police vehicles near Marriott Drilling depot. Photo: Joe Boyd
Photo: Deborah Hodson
Civic Centre, North Lincolnshire Council, Scunthorpe
Small number of opponents of Egdon’s oil production plan outside North Lincolnshire Council, 3 July 2017. Photo: DrillOrDrop
A small demonstration outside the headquarters of North Lincolnshire Council marked the second committee meeting to decide plans by Egdon Resources for oil production at its Wressle site near Scunthorpe.
For the second time, councillors refused permission and this time refused the company’s application for a year’s extension to the existing consent. DrillOrDrop’s live updates from the meeting and breaking news of the decision.
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