Fracking Progress Stalled as Protesters Step Up Action Against Shale Gas Company Cuadrilla in Lancashire

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By Lauraย Creighton, reporting fromย Lancashire

Two lorries attempting to make their way in and out of shale gas company Cuadrillaโ€™s Preston New Road fracking site have been stopped in their tracks byย protesters.

Two men managed to jump on top of the lorries after several people ran in front of them to slow them down. The first lorry was stopped at around 12.30pm, with the second vehicle mounted a couple of hoursย later.

Protesters said they expected them to remain on the lorries โ€œfor several hoursโ€, disrupting supplies to and from theย site.

One protester, who goes by the name of Bluebell, said: โ€œI think itโ€™s very brave, itโ€™s a vital thing toย do.โ€

She added that, although the protesters had caused disruption along the road, โ€œthereโ€™ll be a lot more disruption when there’s earthquakesโ€, referring to the often-cited tremors known to occur at some frackingย sites.

Police responded by stationing around 20 officers and multiple police vehicles at each lorry, situated either side of the accessย gate.

One lane of traffic has been closed on part of the road due to the disruptions. But many road-users honked their horns, smiling and waving to the protesters in support despite theย delays.

Todayโ€™s traffic disruption is part of a dedicated month of action to protest Cuadrillaโ€™s plans to frack for shale oil and gas in Lancashire. The local protesters are joined by a group called Reclaim the Power. A spokesperson for the group said: โ€œSpontaneous actions today show the creativity of the response toย this.โ€

โ€œThe cops have drafted in extra resources from around the country. It’s gonna be really hard to push fracking throughย here.โ€

Protesters also criticised the police as well as Cuadrillaโ€™s own security team at the site for heavy handedness. Todayโ€™s actions follow an incident at the site last week, in which Cuadrillaโ€™s security appeared to violently restrain one protester. Lancashire police are now investigating.

Another protester, Daz, who remains mainly at the base camp, said: โ€œThis is the only option we have left to us, we tried the democratic route, we tried the legalย route.

โ€œWeโ€™ve been intimidated by the corporations and backed into aย corner.โ€

Daz grew up two miles away from the fracking site: โ€œI promised my kids that they could play โ€˜round here like I did so I canโ€™t go home because I won’t break that promise,โ€ heย said.

A spokesperson for Lancashire constabulary told DeSmog UK: โ€œOur intention is to ensure a consistent and coordinated policing response and ensure a balance between the rights of people to lawfully protest, together with the rights of the wider public, including local businesses, to go about their lawfulย activities.

โ€œWe aim to prevent, where possible, crime and disorder, but if it does occur we will provide an effective, lawful and proportionateย response.โ€

Incidents at the site and near Cuadrillaโ€™s HQ are planned throughout July, as part of a month ofย action.

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