Blockade of the Horse Hill site in Surrey, 20 August 2018. Photo: RodHarbinson.com
Ten people were arrested when opponents of operations to explore for oil in southern England blocked the entrance to the site of the so-called Gatwick Gusher at Horse Hill in Surrey.
The site operator, Horse Hill Developments Ltd, is testing the flow of the well. There is planning permission for additional wells at the site if the tests are successful. The major investor, UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) said in June it was preparing to submit a further planning application to seek consent to produce oil from the existing and future wells.
UKOG said yesterday it had increased its stake in the Horse Hill operation and the exploration licence areas PEDL 137 and 246.
Last winter, protesters occupied the Horse Hill site for two nights. UKOG has sought an injunction against protests at Horse Hill and another site at Broadford Bridge in West Sussex. A decision on the High Court application is expected soon.
Campaign speakers at Preston New Road
Campaigners against Cuadrilla’s shale gas operation at Preston New Road near Blackpool gathered outside the site to hear speeches from John Ashton, a former Foreign Office climate change ambassador, and Jamie Bartlett, author and director of the Demos Centre for the Analysis of Social Media.
The gathering was part of the weekly Green Monday event, which has been running outside Preston New Road for more than a year.
Cuadrilla is expected to begin fracking at the site shortly. This will be the first high volume hydraulic fracturing in the UK since 2011 and the first frack of a horizontal shale gas well.
John Ashton speaking at Green Monday event at Preston New Road, 20 August 2018. Photo: Barbara Richardson
Jamie Bartlett speaking at Green Monday event at Preston New Road, 20 August 2018. Photo: Barbara Richardson
Lancashire campaigner, John Hobson (right) with Eric Albert of Le Monde at Green Monday event at Preston New Road, 20 August 2018. Photo: Barbara Richardson
Categories: protest
DRILL OR DROP? 
Did Jamie Bartlett shave his beard off in between the two last photos? Or did he grow one if the last photo was taken first? We should be told……
I see the last photo has been corrected and it is actually Eric Albert of Le Monde – Jamie Bartlett presumably still has his beard?
Seems that the lost souls have found their way to HH.
No fracking, nothing to get excited about-so, let’s use something artificial to get the excitement going!
All good, reference the injunction.
14 earthquakes in an area that has had no seismic activity for generations. Don’t say we didn’t tell you so, Nimby !
The days of fossil fuel dependency are much closer to ending than many realise. The acceleration of electric vehicles is rapid, I am an ardent listener to EV News Daily, an excellent podcast on the progress that vehicle manufacturers are making using sustainable energy.. Its voiced by Martyn, a national radio broadcaster who would appreciate listener support. Its an interesting free listen on any of the social media outlets.
[podcast name corrected at poster’s request]
The headline is a little misleading. Implies that HH is the fracking site. why not put at PNR Fracking Site in the headline! Very naughty.
Fair point, Mrs M. The headline has been amended to remove any ambiguity. Thanks.
thank you.
Has anyone worked out how much fossil fuel is needed to build an electric car ?
‘Has anyone worked out how much fossil fuel is needed to build an electric car ?’
Try and keep up with the real world
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-gigafactory-1-solar-rooftop-array/
Free entrance…
If 7 billion people require renewable energy, pollution shall be all time high…
Everyone of them should have been lifted on public order offences, if they want to protest do it without obstruction.
No fracking here so a very misleading heading from drill or drop – again
The headline to this article has been amended to remove any ambiguity over Horse Hill and fracking
Tell us what Gadget? That UK has over 300 seismic tremors per year, many in areas where there had been little previous activity?
Or that HH was not even being tested before most of the local cluster occurred?
But facts must not get in the way-hence the Fracking signs. Although, maybe that is due to the “environmentalists” being so concerned about their emissions they decided it was better not to travel the hundreds of miles to the nearest site where fracking is planned? LOL.
So, now the injunction is almost a certainty because a few couldn’t be controlled. And because that pattern is now being exposed for all to see, new injunctions will be a doddle.
A good day’s work-for the oil and gas industry.
Hear, hear. Two thirds of the one third being led astray and leaving them all looking like clowns.
Here Here, a great day for the oil and gas industry, roll on the injuctions.
HERE, HERE ………… NOT A GREAT DAY for the future of the human race .
Arctic’s strongest sea ice breaks up for FIRST TIME on record .
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/21/arctics-strongest-sea-ice-breaks-up-for-first-time-on-record
Well John, I suggest first practice what you preach!
I have “enjoyed” two Hybrids as my last two vehicles, and whilst there was not a lot wrong with them, there was little to encourage me to a third. Current electric/hybrid vehicles are too much of a compromise and whilst they will improve over time that is one of their other problems. Today’s model will not be wanted tomorrow so depreciation is awful if you want to sell. If you want to keep, anyone mentioned to you how rapidly you will need to replace batteries and the cost?
I drove an average of 40k miles/year for 40 years, so have a bit of experience behind me.
With this oh so rapid movement to such vehicles why is petrol the dearest it has been for 4 years? They should be giving the stuff away, like unwanted Xmas gifts, but not happening is it?
Meanwhile, one refinery in UK sees 22m tonnes of oil in/out per year-mostly imported. That’s the reality.
If you are so keen to look to the future, I would consider that same facility being “jiggled” to decarbonise and replace diesel production with hydrogen using fossil fuel (STILL) as the feedstock.
How is it that none of these protesters seem have any work to go to Or are they all on Benifits.