Eviction of New Hope protest camp, 19 November 2019. Photo: Ros Wills
The anti-fracking campaign, Frack Free Lancashire, has criticised yesterday’s eviction of a protest camp near Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road shale gas site.
The group accused the enforcement company of aggression and of making false statements about camp residents.
The eviction, which began at 6.30am, involved 30 security staff and reportedly nearly 50 police officers.
Frack Free Lancashire said camp residents had been given no warning and no time to collect their belongings. They described how they were taken from sleeping spaces in the dark and cold. Homes and personal belongings, including solar panels and a wind turbine, were bulldozed.
Residents were not allowed to try to retrieve possessions for more than five hours, Frack Free Lancashire said. Pet cats were frightened by security dogs. Eyewitnesses counted up to 49 police officers at one point in the operation.
The eviction company, Able Enforcements, said in a press release that the operation was carried out under common law rights.
Frack Free Lancashire said the landowner had given no written or verbal notice to the camp.
The group also criticised what it described as “derogatory and untrue” statements made by the company in the press release.
Steve Wood, the operations director, said Able Enforcements had met many of the camp residents before. He said:
“We knew what to expect in terms of aggression, abuse and violence”.
But Frack Free Lancashire said:
“We wholly reject this defamatory statement and know the camp residents to be peaceful and a welcome part of our community.
“The camp was been established with the landowner’s permission and community support almost three years ago. They have in, turn, supported the local residents in their battle against failed fracking company, Cuadrilla. They are part of the community.
“We will stand together with our friends, who have purposely been made homeless following this inhumane eviction process and will work together as a community to assist however we can.”
Categories: Opposition
DRILL OR DROP? 
Aw these poor protectors. Do we need to show videos of their aggressive behaviour!!!!
I wonder if the number of Able employees are shown in the breakdown of the 64,000 well paid jobs the fracking industry promised but was found to be a lie.
Maybe Able got confused and were expecting trouble.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2015/sep/11/vivienne-westwood-tank-david-cameron-fracking-protest-video
The industry has been pummelled to dust by well organised communities. Protectors and top legal and environmental teams have worked together to bury an industry that is neither needed nor wanted.
Last minute desperate attempts to try and spin bad PR about the anti fracking movement is completely futile.
I suggest payment upfront for anyone still working for the dregs of the industry.
Feel free JMNS – I am sure people can post at least one of site security’s aggressive behaviour for every one you can find to post. That beardy chap with the dyed hair is a bit of a one isn’t he!
https://www.facebook.com/PNR-Anti-Fracking-Protest-Truth-Reality-101232571240649/
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You and Michelle. Two peas in a pod eh LOL
You only need to look at the web site for Able Enforcements, they boast about evicting Travelers and Protesters. [Edited by moderator]
Perhaps if the Protesters had left when asked there would not have been any need for this however, clearly the Protesters had no respect for other people’s property by their continual occupation of the site so the owners of the site were left with no option. Video evidence of the protesters shows that they, the Protesters, were far from peaceful or pleasant.
Perhaps you should read the report more carefully,
‘The landowner had given no verbal or written notice to the camp’.
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Camp residents are peaceful…??? Really…??? Many would agree that is a lie and here is the evidence proving that… very few in the community stand with them, the majority want them, their intimidation and violence gone… including many local anti frackers who welcomed them in 2017 to be turned on at the roadside and online… see the truth not the lie with your own eyes… https://www.facebook.com/PNR-Anti-Fracking-Protest-Truth-Reality-101232571240649/
About time these wasters were moved on, gate camp next with any luck🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
Wow Robert. For a couple who live in Poulton you and Claire really are upset about 10 feet of pavement 5 miles from your house! Why IS that?
Dale,
How would you like to be forcibly removed from your home?
Are you local by the way or part of the reformed pro-fracking propaganda machine?
Anyway the issue at the heart of all this is whether or not fracking can safely do what was promised on the tin by Cameron, Egan, Menzies and co:
1. Create tens of thousands of high paid jobs in Lancashire.
2. Create demand for massive amounts of accommodation and goods in Lancashire.
3. Pump massive amounts of cheap shale gas into people’s homes in Lancashire.
ALL THIS WITHOUT CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGING EARTHQUAKES, TOXIC GASEOUS EMISSIONS OR WATER SHORTAGES.
OBVIOUSLY NOT!
AND THAT’S WHY FRACKING NEEDS BANNING IN LANCASHIRE, THE UK AND EVERYWHERE!
They all have flats. They are only there for the freebies. Professional beggars