Labour and trades union rally at Kirby Misperton, 3 November 2017. Photo: Kirby Misperton Protection Camp
In this update on protests about fracking and the onshore oil and gas industry:
- Labour rallies at Kirby Misperrton and Preston New Road;
- Suffragette-style protest at Pickering Conservative offices;
- Sit-down and lorry protest at Preston New Road;
- Slow walk protests;
- Anti-fracking rally in Sherwood Forest;
- Acquittal of Greenpeace volunteer campaigners;
- High Court protest over INEOS injunction.
This post will be updated throughout the week. Please let us know (click here) about events which you think should be included.
11 November 2017
Union rally at Preston New Road
Trades unionists from across north west England joined residents and Frack Free Greater Manchester for a rally at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site. Speakers included: Stephen Hall, of Unite; Clara Paillard, of PCS; Don Naylor, of Stockport Unison; John Fox, of the Bakers’ Union; Hilary Chuter, of the National Education Union; and Tina Rothery, of the Lancashire Nanas. Photos: Frack Free Greater Manchester
Judy Paskell, of Frack Free Greater Manchester, said:
“Fracking for gas is a filthy industry, polluting water, air and countryside and producing a fossil fuel which will make climate change worse and which we do not need.
“We protested against drilling for shale gas at Barton Moss in Salford, and now Frack Free Greater Manchester are supporting the campaign to stop fracking at Preston New Road near Blackpool.
“Trade unionists joined our rally to put the case for thousands of good, sustainable jobs in renewable energy, building insulation and public transport instead of the few jobs for local people in fracking.
“Wales, Scotland and Ireland have banned fracking, and we can force our government to do the same in England.”
10 November 2017
Police drag Green Party co-leader from N Yorks fracking site
Green Party co-leader, Jonathan Bartley, dragged from the gate at Third Energy’s site at Kirby Misperton, 10 November 2017. Photo: Still from a video by Kirby Misperton Protection Camp
The co-leader of the Green Party, Jonathan Bartley, was dragged by police away from the entrance to Third Energy’s fracking site at Kirby Misperton. DrillOrDrop report
9 November 2017
Lorry surfer at Third Energy’s Kirby Misperton site
A man climbed onto a lorry going into Third Energy’s Kirby Misperton site at about 1.50pm. North Yorkshire Police said he was brought down and arrested at about 5.40pm. He was later charged with hindering someone carrying out their lawful business and obstructing a police officer. Another man, who held on to the lorry at about the same time, was charged with getting onto a motor vehicle, the police said.
Lorry protest, Third Energy’s Kirby Misperton fracking site, 9 November 2017. Photo: North Yorkshire Police
Lorry protest, Third Energy’s Kirby Misperton fracking site, 9 November 2017. Photo: Eddie Thornton
8 November 2017
Slow walk protests
Slow walk protest, Habton Road, Kirby Misperton, 8 November 2017. Photo: North Yorkshire Police
North Yorkshire Police reported there had been two slow walk protests outside Third Energy’s Kirby Misperton fracking site. They were at 10.50am and 1.25pm, both of about 20 minutes, the force said.
7 November 2017
Scarecrows against fracking event
Farmers against fracking gathered outside Third Energy’s KM8 well in North Yorkshire site to display their anti-fracking scarecows.
Matt Trevelyan, a local sheep farmer, said:
‘’When we come to the gates to protest we are empowered. It means we haven’t given up the fight and retreated to our warm front rooms. It means we still believe we can win.”
He called on farmers and landowners to deny fracking companies access to their land.
“We must refuse INEOS, IGAS, Cuadrilla and Third Energy access to our land. As farmers and landowners, this may be the single most important thing we can do. We need to talk to our neighbours and work together to ensure that every inch of this beautiful land is as difficult for them to access as possible.”
Slow walk protest
North Yorkshire Police said it allowed 10 people to walk in front of a lorry on Habton Road, delivering to Third Energy’s fracking site at Kirby Misperton. The protest at 2.05pm, delayed the delivery for about 20 minutes, the police said.
6 November 2017
Slow walk protest of rig workers
Members of the Kirby Misperton Protection Camp attempted a slow walk of rig staff on their way to Third Energy’s fracking site at about 6.45am. North Yorkshire Police have facilitated this form of protest at times at Kirby Misperton.
Michelle Easton, of the protection camp, said two vehicles did not stop. A pick up truck used by the NSSL security firm. She said security staff pushed people out of the way and into road-side ditches. Third Energy said the incident had been reported to police. The protection camp said it was preparing a complaint to North Yorkshire Police. It was alleged that two officers failed to stop the security guards during the later part of the incident. The North Yorkshire Force said it was investigating the incident. Videos posted by Michelle Easton
“Lorry surfing” and sit-down protest
Sit-down protest at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site, 6 November 2017. Photo: Frack Free Lancashire
Sit-down protest at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site, 6 November 2017. Photo: Frack Free Lancashire
“Lorry surfing” protest outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site, 6 November 2017. Photo: Ros Wlls
Opponents of Cuadrilla’s shale gas site at Preston New Road near Blackpool took part in a sit-down protest to block access to the site. A campaigner also climbed on top of a tanker outside the entrance.
Women chained themselves to Tory HQ railings
Two women chained to railings at Pickering Conservative offices, 6 November 2017. Photo: Kirby Misperton Protection Camp
Two women chained themselves to railings at Pickering Conservative offices in a Suffragette-style protest against Third Energy’s fracking plans in North Yorkshire. They were later joined by other local women in a protest outside the town’s Barclays branch. The bank owns 97% of Third Energy. DrillOrDrop report
Slow walk protest at Kirby Misperton
Slow walk protest at Kirby Misperton, 6 November 2017. Photo: North Yorkshire Police
North Yorkshire Police said about 20 campaigners took part in a slow walk protest on Habton Road, delaying a delivery to Third Energy’s Kirby Misperton fracking sie by about 20 minutes.
Slow walk protest
Security staff pushed and grappled with anti-fracking protesters attempting an early morning slow walk near Third Energy’s Kirby Misperton site. The protest aimed to slow down the security officers on their way to work. More details coming soon.
5 November 2017
Charter of the Forest and Fracking
Charter of the Forest event, 5 November 2017. Photo: Greg Hewitt
Charter of the Forest event, 5 November 2017. Photo: Greg Hewitt
Dozens of opponents of shale gas gathered at the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest to voice concerns about drilling and fracking in the area. The event, organised by Friends of the Earth and Frack Free Nottingham, marked the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest, which re-established the rights of ordinary people to use the land for their own purposes, such as grazing and gathering food and wood.
4 November 2017
Trades Union rally at Kirby Misperton
Several hundred trades unionists took part in a march through Kirby Misperton in protest at Third Energy’s plans to frack in the North Yorkshire village.
The march, organised by the United union, attracted people from across the north of England.
3 November 2017
Greenpeace lock-on protesters acquitted
Volunteers protesting against fracking are found not guilty
10 Greenpeace volunteers who took part in a lock-on protest outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site near Blackpool were acquitted at the end of a trial this week. DrillOrDrop report
2 November 2017
Slow walk protest
Slow walk protest at Kirby Misperton, 2 November 2017. Photo: North Yorkshire Police
North Yorkshire Police said it facilitated a slow walk protest at Kirby Misperton when a group of campaigners walked in front of a delivery lorry at about 12.55pm.
Superintendent Alisdair Dey said:
“We need to balance the rights, needs and wishes of everyone at the site, including those who want to assemble and protest safely and peacefully.
“Every day, officers will engage with the protest community, explaining clearly what is acceptable in terms of safety and reasonableness, and what action will be taken if necessary.”
31 October 2017
Challenge to INEOS injunction against fracking protests
Campaigners protesting about INEOS’s injunction against anti-fracking demonstrations. Photo: DrillOrDrop
Anti-fracking campaigner, Joe Corre, began his three-day challenge in the High Court to the INEOS injunction against fracking protests. The court also heard from a second challenger, Joe Boyd. DrillOrDrop reports. Judgement in the case was deferred and is expected within the next few weeks.
30 October 2017
Opponents block road to Third Energy fracking site
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. DrillOrDrop report
Archive
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Categories: Opposition
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