Wooden tower built on road to Third Energy’s fracking site at Kirby Misperton, 30 October 2017. Photo: Kirby Misperton Protection Camp
Opponents of Third Energy’s plans to frack a well in North Yorkshire blocked the road either side of the site entrance early this morning with wooden platforms.
Protesters, who are on top of the bird-table style structures, are aiming to prevent deliveries and the removal of equipment from the site at Kirby Misperton.
Third Energy has said it was ready to begin fracking the KM8 well from last Thursday (26 October 2017). Since then, reports of the expected start date for fracking have varied from three days to three weeks.
The workover rig, which had been preparing the well, was taken down on Thursday but is still on the site.
Kirby Misperton Protection Camp, which is trying to prevent Third Energy’s operation, said this morning:
“It is believed that Third Energy were hoping to have removed the workover rig at the end of last week, in order to make space for the fracking equipment.”
Wooden platform on the road to Third Energy’s fracking site at Kirby Misperton, 30 October 2017. Photo: North Yorkshire Police
An occupant of one of the platforms, called Jag, said:
“It’s a sad indictment of the world today that we have to go to these lengths to prevent the government from pushing fracking upon us. There’s no public support for fracking, the evidence of its toxicity and harm is clear.”
North Yorkshire Police have closed the road.
A statement from the force said the platforms were erected at about 3am. Superintendent Alisdair Dey said:
“I know that protest activity has had a significant impact on the local community, particularly over the last few weeks. We are doing all we can to make sure residents can go about their daily lives safely and without disruption.
“Local neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs will continue to be active in Kirby Misperton and surrounding villages, addressing any concerns about the impact of protest activity.”
Update
Two people were later arrested. More details as we get them.
Categories: Opposition
DRILL OR DROP? 
Jag? Shouldn’t an alleged quality journalist use last names? What does he or she , or Ruth have to hide?
Even more delays for an industry spiralling down the plug hole faster than investors can sell their plummeting shares.
Massive global fossil fuel divestment and renewable costs falling rapidly. Battery storage well on it’s way.
Shale gas as likely to come in as ‘sad ken’
Thanks, John; now that’s funny!
This is such a parody on the shale industry.
Wot no tax, untold wealth and only 7p for your house…..
Don’t forget ‘sad ken’ was manipulated to be the favourite.
A dead cert at 100 to 1
No wonder they were queuing up to part with their cash
Now that rings a familiar bell
Interesting that ‘sad ken’ went completely in the wrong direction. I wonder if the horse that won was called ‘Clean Energy’?
Another stop,
Another nail.
They will not stop
Until the shale
Stays in the ground where it belongs.
Dear Alisdair
‘“I know that protest activity has had a significant impact on the local community, particularly over the last few weeks. We are doing all we can to make sure residents can go about their daily lives safely and without disruption.’
As most of the locals do not want fracking for gas in their village your resources would be better spent removing Third Energy and letting the people get on with their daily and nightly lives without disruption..
Prosecute the perps today: Highways Act 1980
1980 c. 66Part IX Obstruction of highways and streets Section 137: Penalty for wilful obstruction.
(1)If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding [F1level 3 on the standard scale].
Article 10 Freedom of expression
‘ gives everyone the right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without State interference.
This includes the right to communicate and to express oneself in any medium, including through words, pictures, images and actions (including through public protest and demonstrations).’
Article 11 Right to protest and freedom of association
‘The right applies to protest marches and demonstrations, press conferences, public and private meetings, counter-demonstrations, ‘sit-ins’, motionless protests etc.’
https://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/
Title of the article should have been “Anti-Frackers Find New Way to Annoy Community and Lose Support”
Just adding these notes for tomorrow’s court appearance re injunction.
Exactly GBK. Not the brightest action.
Be interesting if the injunction is upheld whether it is then rapidly followed by the other exploration companies. I suspect so. But then, of course, they would not have brought it upon themselves.
CO2 levels, HIGHEST in 800,000 years………
Carbon Pollution Touched 800,000 Year Record in 2016, WMO Says
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-30/carbon-pollution-touched-800-000-year-record-in-2016-wmo-says
The Royal Society……… Is the current level of atmospheric CO2 concentration unprecedented in Earth’s history ?
https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/climate-change-evidence-causes/question-7/
CO2 levels reach their highest for 800,000 YEARS: Record 400ppm measured in April, claim climate scientists
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2622320/CO2-levels-reach-highest-800-000-YEARS-Record-400ppm-measured-April-claim-scientists.html
800,000 years is a blink of an eye in terms of the earth’s history.
As the current dominant human species has only been here for around 200,000 we may have a problem, Houston…..
Whenever these ridiculous comments appear from the PFs the story of Noah comes to mind…..
Don’t doubt it Jack. I have one stables behind my property, one in front. Both have been burning animal waste from midday yesterday during an absolutely windless spell. Stench is awful. Must be time to get rid of the horses and replace with something more modern!
Add the huge pollution produced from Chinese coal fired power stations, churning out the power to make solar panels for Europe, and you have a toxic combination.
Martin; as far as I am aware, you are not allowed to burn waste from horses. You would have a valid case. Contact your council.
However, as the weather is becoming colder, check first that it is not just the steam coming off the heap due to decomposition. It gets very hot inside a heap! Great source of free heat if you run water pipes through.
Regarding the production of solar panels, then you will have to work out the stats and the trade off. Look forward to your input.
So Martin wouldn’t your efforts be best served doing something about your neighbours and the Chinese?
Problem is Paula and Sherwulfe, the EA is too busy being sent on wild goose chances by eco warriors, they have no time to deal with other matters. Been complaining for three years, they just send a diary chart to record events and then do nothing. Mind you, we have an extra cop out locally, that if stable owners don’t get what they want in terms of planning etc. they just threaten to sell to the local travellers, and hey presto, all plans are passed and complaints over looked. Also, in a community where 300 houses have to be added, many of the stable owners also have their eyes on getting houses on their land, so, deliberately set out to be antisocial so that when push comes to shove, neighbours do not fight planning on the basis houses would be a better option.
Nice little oil well would be a much better neighbour-see, Wytch Farm.
I shall persevere with the stables, but I suspect the Chinese are a bit beyond me.
A problem with working out the solar panel stats Sherwulfe, as the unknown is the life span of Chinese solar panels. If they turn out to be anything like the life span of their other lower cost products, then the stats will be terrible. (Compare “galvanised” hinges etc. from China compared to the traditional ones that were available from the Midlands-then you will see (rust) why they were lower cost.)
‘EA is too busy being sent on wild goose chances by eco warriors’
Sorry Martin. The truth is the EA just don’t have the staff due to cuts from you know who….If you check the planning permissions it will likely state no burning of waste on site therefore will be an enforcement notice.
It’s sad that you cannot resolve this amicably with your neighbours. There are no bad horses, only bad owners 🙂