Another eviction began early this morning to remove anti-drilling campaigners who occupied the Horse Hill oil site near Gatwick Airport. The final campaigners were removed at 5.45pm.
The campaigners said unidentified security officers began removing equipment and belongings at about 5.30am. They alleged that people had been assaulted and a woman was hurt.
This is the second attempted eviction since the campaigners established a camp at the site about 48 hours ago. DrillOrDrop report.
The campaigners, who call themselves Horse Hill Protectors, said they had established their camp at the site to raise awareness of climate change, air and water pollution and industrialisation of the countryside.
Horse Hill, near Horley, was granted planning permission last month for two additional oil exploration wells and extended flow tests on these and the existing well.
Yesterday, DrillOrDrop reported that the group had installed tripod structures, a scaffolding platform and tree houses, as well as pitching tents on the site. We’re updating this post with new developments at Horse Hill.
Live updates
5.45pm Campaigners evicted
The final campaigners, who had locked themselves to the gate, are removed from the Horse Hill site, more than 60 hours after the occupation began. No arrests reported. The campaigners tweet:
“Everybody out, no arrests, tidied up, point made. So much love to the locals, activists and LOs [Legal Observers] who supported the camp.”
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
2.45pm: Statement from oil company
Stephen Sanderson, chairman of Horse Hill Developments Limited & UK Oil & Gas plc, said:
“I have no issue with peaceful protest. But this was far from it. These activists gained unlawful access to our well site premises, behaved in an aggressive and threatening manner to our staff, and caused criminal damage. We have used all available legal means to secure the site so that our lawful business at Horse Hill can safely continue. We apologise to local residents for any noise or disruption these events may have caused.”
2pm: Campaigners locked to gates
Photo: Still from video by Scott Breen
Photo: Still from video by Scott Breen
12 noon: Tower demolished
Photo: Scott Breen
10.30am: Campaigners locked-on in the scaffolding tower
Photo: Ross Monaghan
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
Photo: from live video by Horse Hill Protector
8am: Specialist rescue team attempts to extract campaigners from tree house
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
7.50am: Large numbers of security officers
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
7.40am: Specialist rescue team on site
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
7.15am: Specialist bailiffs
Campaigners report the arrival of a team of specialist bailiffs
Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
7.10: Police on site
Campaigners say two Surrey Police officers are at the site and a large number of security staff.
6.30am: Long day predicted
The campaigners tweet:
“Up in the high places, up in the trees, got lots of food, going to be a long day.”
Security officers at occupied Horse Hill oil site, 2 December 2017. Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
5.30am: Security guards arrive
Campaigners at the Horse Hill site report the arrival of security guards
Security officers at occupied Horse Hill oil site, 2 December 2017. Photo: still from video by Horse Hill Protectors
Security officers at occupied Horse Hill oil site, 2 December 2017. Photo: Horse Hill Protectors
Categories: Opposition
DRILL OR DROP? 
Why are security wearing masks and not showing their identity badges?
Because you supposed people of the earth may use that information to intimidate the company or individuals doing their job ?
Why are protesters wearing masks and not wearing identity badges ? Why is it that only law enforcers are bound by these rules and not the criminals ? A little unfair don’t you think?
Paula
Looking at the pictures, most security or rope access personnel ( rope access personnel are not security personnel maybe ), are not wearing masks.
Assault is not a civil matter these are just paid thugs who probably worked the local night club doors before this early morning attack on peaceful protectors
At least they worked John!
So did they Krays , it don’t make them above the law
That’s Specialist Group International personnel on the ropes. Not cheap.
Tina
Indeed, they are not cheap but they are in demand. Ex offshore RAT chaps maybe, filling in while waiting for an up rock in offshore work. Every cloud has a silver lining.
hewes they were earlier at the first invasion
Ok. Thanks
Where’s the London Stock Market announcement on this? The company UKOG are with-holding material market sensitive information. This should have been released via RNS Regulatory News Service. Contact Email the Aim Regulation Team aimregulation@lseg.com and demaind that UKOG Release an RNS as this is a material event. UKOG are deliberately in breach of London Stock Market Rules & Regulations by with-holding this news.
Why would this be “market sensitive”???? And why would this come from UKOG? What uninformed tosh.
This site is not actively operating currently, and this little event will not prevent it operating to previously announced plans, and dates.
Next it will be an RNS required because a badger dug under the fence!
Not planned the timing correctly, have you? But then, you wouldn’t have gained access if you had! “A material event”-don’t flatter yourselves, your publicity exercise is not a material event, except for yourselves.
Hey ho.
Evicted.
Just in time for them to get ready for start of work Monday! Of course they will need the day off to top up their vehicles with diesel tomorrow, processed at Fawley refinery from oil from Saudi. Status Quo were enjoyable, but in this context, certainly not.
‘ Of course they will need the day off to top up their vehicles with diesel tomorrow, processed at Fawley refinery from oil from Saudi. Status Quo were enjoyable, but in this context, certainly not.’ and these amazing ‘facts’ come from which friend or past work experience, Martin?…
Clearly speculation and totally made up!