Protest at the Ineos Bramleymoor Lane site, 29 August 2018. Photo: Joanne Gough
An opponent of Ineos plans to explore for shale gas in Derbyshire was knocked down by a tractor during a protest yesterday, according to eyewitnesses.
Police are investigating the incident, which left the person with minor injuries.
Anti-shale gas campaigners had gathered on a footpath near the entrance to the Ineos site in the village of Marsh Lane, where earlier this month the company was granted planning permission for a vertical coring well.
Eyewitness Tracy Lund Butt said the incident happened in the afternoon when a tractor being operated in a neighbouring field, followed by Ineos security, drove towards a local man, who had just arrived at the protest.
She said:
“We were all moving to the side to let the tractor through.
“He [the tractor driver] revved his engine like he was in a sports car, shouting something then let the clutch out and charged through the gate, hitting Trev Butt and knocking him to the ground.”
Ms Lund Butt, who spoke against Ineos plans for Marsh Lane at a public inquiry in the summer, said:
“The Ineos reps came over, asked if he was ok. The tractor driver then turned the tractor round and drove through a hedge to get away, ripping the hedge and fencing out. He left the scene, so did the Ineos guys.
“We phoned the police. When they got there, they phoned an ambulance to come and check him over.”
Protest at the Ineos Bramleymoor Lane site, 29 August 2018. Photo: Joanne Gough
Villagers said five police cars and a police van attended.
Ms Bund said police had been at the protest before the incident and had spoke to a member of the parish council.
“They were happy and left”, she said.
A spokesperson for Derbyshire Police told DrillOrDrop:
“We attended a small protest in and around Marsh Lane yesterday afternoon (August 29).
“Our officers were sent to the site to facilitate the rights of those protesting and ensure that the event passed off peacefully.
“There have been no arrests in relation to the protest. However, enquiries are ongoing into a collision between a man and a tractor. The 50-year-old man suffered minor injuries.
“Anyone with any information in regards to this incident should contact us on the 101 number with reference number 18000412087.”
Protest at the Ineos Bramleymoor Lane site, 29 August 2018. Photo: Frances Hopwood
Police said they were attending another small protest at the site today.
Ineos was granted a High Court injunction in November 2017 prohibiting specified protests at several sites, including Marsh Lane, and on lorry routes to the sites.
Derbyshire Police said it was up to Ineos to take action to enforce the injunction.
An Ineos spokesperson said:
“Wednesday’s incident in the Marsh Lane area of Derbyshire is an unfortunate example of deliberate interference with the day-to-day operations of a working farm. It follows a targeted campaign of harassment by a small cadre of protestors against a hard-working farmer.
“On Wednesday a protestor deliberately stood in front of his tractor and has claimed that he was struck. The farmer and other eye-witnesses are clear that the man was not struck. We understand that an ambulance that attended found that the protestor did not need treatment. The police are currently investigating the incident and we will of course help them with their enquiries.
“On Thursday the protestors where back on the site including the man in question.”
31/8/18 Updated with Ineos comment. Article closed to further comments.
Categories: Opposition
DRILL OR DROP? 
Can anyone tell me the outcome of the paramedic’s opinion regarding the collision?, was the alleged injured person treated? taken to hospital for x rays etc.?
How many police cars plus a van plus a hard pushed Ambulance crew. If there were no injuries or grounds to call the police or ambulance service, that becomes a prosecutable offence.
Ask the police- they called the ambulance
Does anyone know why there is a tractor in the pictures above? According to eyewitness reports, the tractor driver left the scene ( Mrs Lund Butt ). But did he take the tractor with him? Is that the tractor involved or a different one. Is the driver in the tractor in the picture the one involved, or someone different?
Did the tractor driver and tractor return?
Who is the guy bring spoken to by the police?
Or did the tractor and driver remain and then the police arrived and interviewed him.
All interesting stuff. We would need a few more witness statements to get to the bottom of this I guess.
No, I do not believe every statement put out by the police, neither do I believe every other statement put out by others. That was my point. Sorry you missed it.
It would appear by the photo “evidence” a tractor was involved in harvesting work. Police were present at one time but people were still clearly obstructing the tractor. Then it appears police left and an incident happened.
None of us know how that incident occurred, we have “witness” reports but nothing for the “defence”. I do know, having done it myself, harvesting operations are very reliant upon team work co-ordinating the function. You have a breakdown on a tractor transporting the grain from a combine to the store, and then those working at the store are idle and the combine has to stop as well. Sometimes, the combine is contracted and hurrying to get to the next farm. Any weak link is under pressure eg. a tractor driver who forgot to fill up with diesel and has to nip off to do so is not likely to be allowed to forget it. Sounds minor, until it then rains and some of the harvest is lost.
So, I can understand several different reasons why an incident might have occurred. Deliberate action by the farm worker/farmer is only one of many.
Surely the tractor would have been in collision with the man, and not vice versa.
I think anyone with a brain can put two and two together and come to correct conclusion the protestors were the culprits in causing the incident.
One day these selfish protesters will need police or ambulance.Wasting public resources.Should be made to pay .I don,t pay my taxes for these idiots.That should not be there anyway
Slade we pay our taxes too we are there protecting our homes which we work to buy and our children’s primary school in a heavily mined area so do your research wait till it comes too your area
[Edited by moderator] Why would you assume that anyone would deliberately hurt themselves? Anyway, it is all on video I believe [edited by moderator]
All these people here talking rubbish in the comments. Talking down a bloke who was hit by a tractor. That tractor was being supported by two security guards from Ineos (as demoted by the hi viz vests they were wearing). I find it heartless that rather than being concerned as to how he is instead made out to have caused this himself. Those Ineos guards who then allowed the farmer to leave the scene of an accident, but according to the police are there to protect everyone. For those saying that they can seee the farmer in the picture those aren’t pictures taken at the time of the incident, they also obviously don’t know about farming, they have more than one tractor and trailer. I won’t read comment like this and see an injured man slated by keyboard warriors!
Cass, why were the two Ineos security guards supporting the tractor in the field, is there a connection and if so, what is the connection between the Farmer, Ineos and the proposed drilling site?
We are all animals animal instincts are to protect there young there homes and familys not just sitting behind closed doors critising people behind your keyboards sit up open your curtains and see what’s happening in the real world
If you don’t want to get hit by moving vehicles, don’t stand in the road. It has been a miracle that nobody has been seriously at PNR and what have the roadside protesters achieved, sweet Fanny Adams!
I completely agree, it is unbelievable that nobody has been injured at the PNR site. Driving past many times there is always somebody standing in the middle of the road walking backwards and forwards near traffic, crazy.
[Edited by moderator]
Protestors recklessly positioning themselves obstructing vehicles be it on Country lanes or outside the PNR site is beyond belief…
I see my comment has been edited
So much for independent journalism
Sad day when a truthful statement is edited because it doesn’t support the anti cause
[Edited by moderator]
My statement was edited also and I am part of the anti fracking cause so don’t pull that one!