Protest outside Cuadrlila’s Preston New Road site, 15 March 2018. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Campaigners used two scaffolding tripods to block the entrance to Cuadrilla’s shale gas site near Blackpool this morning.
The action, which began at about 4.30am, was by members of the national group, Reclaim the Power, which coordinated a month of protests outside the site last summer.
Two people from Oxfordshire were suspended on harnesses from the tripods, while others were photographed carrying banners reading “Until We Win”, Not Here, Not Anywhere”, and “Keep it in the ground”.
Fylde Police said it had established a contraflow on the A583 outside the site and delays were expected throughout the day.
Fylde Police Facebook post, 15 March 2018
One of the campaigners, Louise Simpson, said:
“Fracking gas here in Lancashire or anywhere will only worsen the climate crisis at a time when we know all fossil fuels must stay in the ground. RTP will be here until fracking is no more.”
“Impacted communities – mostly poor, predominately in the Global South – are already enduring the effects of climate change from flooding, to drought, to more frequent and severe extreme weather events, leading to food insecurity and forced displacement.
“It is our responsibility to say ‘no’ to all new fossil fuels, as the local community here in Lancashire have done, and take direct action to ensure that ‘no’ is followed through.”
Henry Belcher, another member of the blockade, said,
“We take this action as a last resort, in solidarity with communities leading the resistance to fracking and wider fossil fuel extraction locally and globally.
“From fracking in Lancashire, to oil pipelines across North America, and coal mining from Colombia to Vietnam, local communities are saying ‘no’ to new fossil fuel infrastructure, but are systematically ignored by the fossil fuel industry, banks and governments who use violence to repress them.”
“Communities most proximate to fossil fuel extraction deserve a democratic say over how their land is used and how their energy is produced. There will be no climate justice without land rights and energy democracy. No climate justice without Indigenous sovereignty. No climate justice without global solidarity.”
Protest outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site, 15 March 2018. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Reclaim the Power is organising a national demonstration outside the Preston New Road on tomorrow (16 InMarch 2018).
The group said its Jig at the Rig event, from 8am- 6pm, was expected to attract hundreds of people.
Cuadrilla is currently drilling two horizontal wells at Preston New Road and is expected to begin fracking in the summer.
Cuadrilla reaction
In a statement, Francis Egan, Chief Executive of Cuadrilla, said:
“We are aware that Reclaim The Power are holding a series of events tomorrow to protest outside our shale gas exploration site at Preston New Road. We hope that, unlike previous occasions, those involved behave responsibly and ensure that local residents and commuters are not inconvenienced by any road blockages and unlawful behaviour. Last July Reclaim The Power’s campaign caused lengthy road blockages which severely hampered local traffic, diverted significant police resource to keep the highways safe and resulted in nearly 100 activists being arrested, the majority coming from outside the county. We respect the right to lawful protest and ask Reclaim The Power to adhere to this and respect the right for local people, including our own employees and contractors, to go about their daily business without any hindrance.”
Arrests
Lancashire Police said there were six arrests outside Preston New Road last month (February 2018), mainly for allegations of obstruction and public order offences. The total number of arrests since protests began in January 2017 now stands at 337. Of these 312 resulted in charges. There is no data on the number of prosecutions or convictions.
Lancashire Police said the total cost of policing the protests from January 2017-February 2018 was £6.58m
Categories: protest
DRILL OR DROP? 
Sure hope they’re doing some rotation with those in harnesses …, might be the undertaker needed when they suffer a premature death caused by suspension trauma!
Yes, let’s put it to bed, crembrule. The facts are that this is an authorised-by Government-industry. Two thirds of those questioned (the public) are not against this industry, so there is no licence for the minority to overturn the Government decision. There are a few on this site who like to ignore simple maths., but “support” is not relevant. The industry is authorised, the majority is not excited to try and overturn that. There is a declining minority who don’t agree with that.
By your logic, fox hunting would be re-introduced! Maybe that’s where your puppies will be needed? Let’s hope you let them use your comfort blanket. (Mini Beast from the East on the way.)
For fracking to be a commercial proposition there would have to be hundreds of pads and thousands of wells. That means more and more communities would be involved. Many of those surveyed are undecided at the moment because until it affects them personally it’s human nature not to bother, but once fracking rears it’s head in their community you can be sure far more will suddenly have an opinion. An example of this is Cuadrilla’s proposed site at Roseacre Wood. Cuadrilla previously proposed just one route for their HGVs, which was refused by the Public Inquiry Inspector. Cuadrilla have now proposed to use a combination of three different routes. Suddenly householders who were not previously on the threatened routes have sprouted anti fracking signs outside their homes. You will be surprised how many undecideds become anti very quickly when they themselves realise that they are the next target.
Pauline there is pro fracker on Wacky backy fracky up in arms about the new routes. Funny how some people get the bigger picture when they are directly affected but they are quite happy for others to shoulder the burden when they aren’t. Much like our Martin, quite happy for the desolate North to be fracked as he isn’t affected.
Damn you Vladimi, mini beast from the East you say Nartin. I wish those pesky Russians would go away and shut up 😂
Your logic Martin, to succeed, relies on the undecided remaining ignorant of the facts, the impacts, and the real costs (of developing a whole new multi billion pound onshore fossil fuel industry). Combating such ignorance is hard work but clearly we think it’s worth it.
No contradiction there PhilipP. Many of the antis could benefit from some hard work.
But your assertion regarding a multi billion onshore fossil industry is a little strange, when others try and persuade the undecided, with stories that it will be uneconomic! Sorry, but until you sort out your own messages don’t expect the undecided to be too energised. Equally, suggesting they are ignorant will not do any better.
Perhaps it might be better to see why the anti support is declining? There were a number of comments last summer from antis unhappy with activities being utilised around PNR-now you welcome back those responsible. Hmm.
I didn’t say they were ignorant, just that is what you have to propogate, and rely on for your kind of ‘progress’ to happen i.e. with the undecided not being told the full story or given the facts. I trust that most will get to know the truth in time.
… this is quite a good primer for those in need of some more general background info https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lGZq5tpdnMg&feature=youtu.be#
Well done! There is no planet B. I’m a member of GFASE and support your protest.
OMG. Not one of your best PhilipP.
What will happen if PNR, or the next one, actually produces gas that is economic? The antis have had years of putting forward their case but will find-and you know it- that a gas find will receive national coverage in the UK and a large proportion of the undecided will decide.
Meanwhile, the antis will keep on trying to excite each other, but you are finding it is becoming more and more difficult to even do that, and are resorting to tactics that produce a controlling reaction. Unfortunately, those genuinely holding concerns are mere pawns.
I should avoid the Referendum nonsense about people not being told the full story or given the facts. You are saying they are ignorant, as those who are not would do their own research. Tie yourself in knots PhilipP, but when you demonstrate that it is not pointing towards “the truth”, just the anti truth.
Twisted words. Is there a relevant point you wish to make?
I made my points PhilipP-did you? Err, no.
Not going to persuade many of the undecided unless you do. But, that’s not the intention, is it? Much easier to label them ignorant, climate change deniers or being paid to think one way.
I know you don’t like answering questions but with the current little problem with Russia have you worked out the quickest and easiest way to restrict their activities? I’ll give you the answer. Drop the price of oil and gas, and bring on alternative supply sources. Ever felt someone is working against you, PhilipP?
People who have been misinformed will be ignorant of the facts Martin. It’s as simple as that, and no fault of their own. For many they may not have even thought about the issue at all … yet. So you need to get your misinformation out to them before the reality dawns on them too. It’s not a labeling or name calling exercise – that is the speciality of the pro fracking activists.
Are you sure RTP are not my side in disguise? Surely you lot can’t be that stoopid to do this just before you go to the HC to overturn an injunction? Oh…. actually you can 🤔
Oh and make sure they put a copy of this on the table, just for a balanced view.of course…
Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking – Fifth Edition
http://www.psr.org/resources/fracking-compendium.html
a very interesting article
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/fracking-health-risk-asthma-birth-defects-cancer-w517809
Good on them!
This achieved what exactly?