Friday, 2 August 2013

Fracking protest enters 10th day

Source BBC News@ tienganhvui.com


Balcombe protest on FridaySussex Police said the protest could continue for some weeks


A protest against oil exploration in a West Sussex village has entered its 10th day - a day after energy company Cuadrilla began drilling at the site.


Operations began in Balcombe on Friday, after being held up by more than a week of demonstrations.


Campaigners fear the test drilling could lead to hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.


A number of arrests have been made as protesters have gathered outside, with some blocking entry to the site.


On Friday, two protesters were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police.


Sussex Police said an officer was punched and kicked by a woman who claimed she was 14, but turned out to be a 19-year-old from Portsmouth.


Fire engine

A 22-year-old man from Bexhill was also arrested after a police officer was hit in the face with a placard, officers claimed.


Six people were arrested on Thursday after protesters blocked the site entrance with an antique fire engine.


Cuadrilla said drilling started at 11:15 BST on Friday. Spokesman Matt Lambert said: "We have had a significant amount of disruption from protesters and the police have been dealing with that in the proper way.


"They have a perfect right to make their point of view known."


Protester at the test drilling site near Balcombe on FridayOn Thursday the site entrance was blocked by a fire engine


More than 30 people have been arrested since last Friday, mainly on suspicion of obstructing deliveries, including the daughter of Kinks star Ray Davies and Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde, Natalie Hynde.


'Violation'

The 30-year-old glued herself to her boyfriend, veteran environmental activist Simon "Sitting Bull" Medhurst, 55, to form a "human lock" at the site entrance on Wednesday.


Vanessa Vine, from Frack Free Sussex, said any future fracking would be "a violation of our geology that could threaten our water, fresh air and our children".


Friends of the Earth spokeswoman Brenda Pollack said: "It threatens their environment and quality of life and will mean more climate-changing emissions are pumped into the atmosphere.


"And there's plenty of evidence that it won't lead to cheaper fuel bills."


Drill at BalcombeThe firm said it started drilling in Balcombe at 11:15 BST


Cuadrilla said it would need fresh permission to carry out fracking.


Chief executive Francis Egan said he did not think the community would be disrupted once drilling began.


"The community should not really notice much activity at all unless they want to walk down to the site and see it," he said.


"There will not be a lot of noise.


"The testing does involve some flaring if there is gas but we are not expecting to find gas."





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