Press release: Communities to rally against fracking injunction

Campaigners will gather from 9.30am on 31 May with the hearing starting at 10.30am. Photo call 10am

Communities opposed to fracking from across the North will be gathering outside the Civil Justice Centre in Manchester on Thursday (31 May 9.30am) 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.

Judy Paskell from Frack Free Greater Manchester said:

“We are gathering outside the High Court hearing in Manchester to demonstrate against this attempt by fracking company Cuadrilla to curtail peaceful protest.

“We are standing up for our right to protest against a central Government decision to steamroller through fracking against the democratically expressed will of the people of Lancashire, whose local councils rejected Cuadrilla’s plans to frack.

“Fracking risks devastating the local environment and our climate – instead of filthy fracking we need a million climate jobs, including in clean and secure renewable energy production.”

The High Court hearing takes place ahead of a week of action for ‘United Resistance’ to fracking at the Preston New Road site, organised by local trade unions and 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-frackers, with speakers and musical entertainment. A coach will be travelling from Manchester Chorlton St bus station at 9am with a pick up at Salford Crescent at 9.30am, and tickets can be booked via Eventbrite.

Fracking company Cuadrilla are currently awaiting consent to frack at Preston New Road from Energy Secretary Greg Clark, having applied for permission on 21 May (3).

Ends

 

Notes

1. https://drillordrop.com/2018/05/21/cuadrilla-seeks-to-extend-protest-injunction-at-lancashire-fracking-site/

2. https://www.facebook.com/events/164196737583363/

3. https://cuadrillaresources.com/media-resources/press-releases/cuadrilla-applies-hydraulic-fracturing-consent/

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