CUADRILLA’S HIGH COURT INJUNCTION FACES CONTINUED OPPOSITION AT PROTEST RALLY
FRACK FREE LANCASHIRE
PRESS RELEASE
CUADRILLA’S HIGH COURT INJUNCTION FACES CONTINUED OPPOSITION AT PROTEST RALLY
30 May 2018
For immediate release
Campaigners will gather from 09.30hrs on 31 May. The court hearing begins at 10.30hrs. A photocall will take place at 10.00hrs *
Communities opposed to fracking from across the North will be gathering outside the Civil Justice Centre in Manchester on Thursday (31 May 09.30am) ahead of a hearing into an application from Cuadrilla to extend an injunction related to its fracking site on Preston New Road in Lancashire (1).
The wide-ranging injunction seeks to prohibit obstruction of the site entrance, such as through ‘lock-ons’ or slow-walking in front of lorries and prevent blockading of suppliers – all tactics which have been used by local anti-fracking campaigners to try and delay Cuadrilla’s progress since work started at the site in January 2017.
A spokesperson from Frack Free Lancashire said:
“We are standing together today outside the High Court hearing in Manchester to show that our peaceful protest will continue against this dreadful industry that has forced its way undemocratically into our community.
“Our councils said no to this application, with a clear and knowledgeable understanding of the local area, environment, community and evidence of the devastating risk that fracking would bring. Central government intervened on behalf of their fracking friends, Cuadrilla, and overruled democracy.
“The global need for clean and renewable energy has never been more urgent. We believe that the government’s backwards vision for digging up yet more fossil fuels is both redundant and needless. Clean energy and climate jobs are needed now. Fracking has no place in our future.”
The High Court hearing takes place during the ongoing ‘United Resistance’ – a three-month campaign against fracking at the Preston New Road site organised by community groups. A mass rally of trade union activists will take place near the site on Saturday 9 June, calling for a ban on fracking and the creation of a million climate jobs (2).
The family-friendly solidarity day is for trade unionists and all other anti-fracking campaigners, with speakers and musical entertainment.
Fracking company Cuadrilla is currently awaiting consent to frack at Preston New Road from Energy Secretary Greg Clark, having applied for permission on 21 May 2018 (3).
ENDS
Notes to the Editor: