“Lorry surfing” protest at Preston New Road, 9 January 2018. Photo: Leo Dobbs
In this update on protests about fracking and the onshore oil and gas industry:
- The first lock-on in 2018 outside Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road shale gas site;
- Lorry surfing protest at Preston New Road;
- Slow walk at Kirby Misperton
- Camp established at Misson Springs
This post will updated with new material. Please let us know (click here) about events which you think should be included.
12 January 2018
Slow walk at Kirby Misperton
North Yorkshire Police reports that about six campaigners delay a delivery to Third Energy’s fracking site at Kirby Misperton by about 20 minutes.
Slow walk outside Third Energy’s fracking site at Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, 12 January 2018. Photo: North Yorkshire Police
11 January 2018
Dates set for trials in Kirby Misperton fracking protest cases
Protest outside York Magistrates Court, 11 January 2018. Photo: DrillOrDrop
Some of the first trials arising out of anti-fracking protests outside Third Energy’s fracking site in North Yorkshire are to go ahead in the spring.
A district judge, sitting at York Magistrates Court today, set dates for cases in April and May.
Nearly 30 people, charged with a total of 47 offences during protests at Kirby Misperton, were represented in court today.
They deny charges including obstructing the highway, obstructing or assaulting a police officer and offences under Section 241 of the Trades Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act.
Ryedale residents wait in the dark as councillors reject expert help on fracking stategy
People waiting outside Ryedale District Council meeting, 11 January 2018. Photo: DrillOrDrop
More than 150 people, many carrying anti-fracking banners, were waiting outside a meeting of Ryedale District Council an hour before the start. But when people were allowed in, entry was limited to 30.
The meeting rejected proposals to employ a specialist to represent them at a hearing that will decide the area’s fracking policy for the next 20 years.
10 January 2018
Lancashire fracking protest data published
Source: Lancashire Police
Almost half the arrests at protests outside Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site in 2017 were for obstructing the highway, according to data from Lancashire Police.
The figures show there were a total of 330 arrests during 2017 and almost all (307) resulted in charges. A majority of the arrests were during the summer.
Less than 15% were under the Public Order Act, which deals with harassment, abusive behaviour and the risk of disorder.
December 2017 protest costs published
North Yorkshire Police says the additional cost of policing the protests at Kirby Misperton in December was £58,488. This is less than half the cost in November (£147,881) and less than a quarter of October (£233,704).
The total spent in 2017 reached £621,787. This included overtime, mutual aid, equipment, subsistence and travel-related costs. It does not include the cost of officers assigned to police the site on a day-to-day basis, the police said.
9 January 2018
Lorry surfing protest
“Lorry surfing” protest at Preston New Road, 9 January 2018. Photo: Leo Dobbs
“Lorry surfing” protest at Preston New Road, 9 January 2018. Photo: Leo Dobbs
An opponent of Cuadrilla’s plans to frack at Preston New Road climbed onto the cab of a lorry delivering to the site near Blackpool at about 4.30pm. At the time of writing (7pm), the campaigner was still on the lorry. We’ll update with new information as we get it.
Alleged poisoning of guard dog at Kirby Misperton
North Yorkshire Police reported that two men were arrested in connection with allegations that pellets had been thrown into Third Energy’s Kirby Misperton site and eaten by a guard dog, which was sick and collapsed. The dog was taken to a vet for treatment
The police said a 42-year-old man was arrested in Kirby Misperton at 1.30pm on Monday 8 January. A 61-year-old was arrested at 2.50pm at Tadcaster bus station that day. The police added:
“Several pellets were seized from the site”.
Both men were released on bail, with a condition to stay away from the site gates. They have not been charged.
A statement from Kirby Misperton Protection Camp described the allegation of poisoning as spurious.
The protection camp said a caravan was searched but nothing was found. A jar of sweets was later seized from the van that serves tea to protesters at the site. The protection camp added:
“We believe that this allegation has been made in response to a formal police complaint, following threats of violence to protectors made by the security dog handler in question.”
On 26 January 2018, bail conditions against the two people arrested were dropped. The matter remains under investigation.
Updated 27 January 2018 with information about bail conditions
Misson Springs camp established
Misson Community Protection Camp, 9 January 2018. Photo: Ruth Hare
Campaigners opposed to IGas’s operations at Springs Road established a camp near the site on 9 January 2018. Deliveries have been delayed by slow-walking protests.
8 January 2018
Four arrested following first Preston New Road lock-on of 2018
Two pairs of opponents of Cuadrilla’s shale gas operations in Lancashire locked themselves together at about 5am outside the site at Preston New Road near Blackpool.
The lock-on protest was the first of 2018. A team of four specialist police officers removed the campaigners by early afternoon.
Police said four people, a 17 year old girl, men aged 43 and 56, and a 39-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of wilful obstruction of the highway.
A spokesperson for the opponents said the action was in memory of two anti-fracking campaigners who died suddenly at the end of last year.
Photos by Louise Robinson and Leo Dobbs
Protest update archive
Categories: Opposition
DRILL OR DROP? 
Brave action by committed, caring people.
We, in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and elsewhere, did say NO remember!
Ruth. You missed out brave protectors arrested for poisoning a dog at km8.
Mike, alleged, innocent until proven guilty in the UK.
Disgusting behaviour to poison a dog.
What sort of people are these protestors?
In the past there was the moronic release of mink from farms into the wild to devastate our wildlife, including almost completely wiping out the Bank Vole. I think that such protestors know exactly what they are doing, but that their celebrity is more important than the cause.
Latest on the incident involving a guard dog “being poisoned” at KM8 Kirby Misperton
DrillOrDrop reported the arrests in this incident here: https://drillordrop.com/2018/01/08/protest-update-8-14-january-2018/
and also in the January headlines for 9 January 2018 https://drillordrop.com/2018/01/02/drilling-headlines-january-2018/
(21/1/18) We understand that no-one has been charged over the dog falling ill. Third Energy’s operations director told local television that the dog suffered anaphylactic shock from eating aniseed balls. Should there be any charges arising from this incident, DrillOrDrop will report them, along with any court cases.
17/6/18 More information after a Freedom of Information request was published, including a vet’s report suggesting the dog was “bright and alert” when examined and no mention of any surgery.