Bristol

Fracking on trial: the verdict

Submitted by brt on Thu, 09/06/2012 - 16:12

A Rising Tide activist who climbed a drilling rig in a protest against fracking in December last year was today found guilty under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act at Preston Magistrates Court. She was ordered to pay a £250 fine and £750 costs.

Yesterday two other defendants were cleared of charges of aggravated trespass as part of the same court case. (1)

On 1 December 2011, protestors from Bristol Rising Tide occupied the test drilling rig, at Cuadrilla Resource’s Hesketh Bank site, Lancashire, shutting it down for 13 hours. (2) (3)

Lawfulness of Cuadrilla’s fracking operation remains in doubt

Submitted by brt on Thu, 09/06/2012 - 09:12

Yesterday, three people from Bristol Rising Tide were on trial for a second day at Preston Magistrates Court following their action (1) which shut down Cuadrilla Resources' hydraulic fracturing (2) site beside the Ribble Estuary in Lancashire in December 2011.

Two of the defendants went free when it became clear that the charges against them had been poorly framed. They had been charged with aggravated trespass.

Lawfulness of Cuadrilla’s fracking operations put into question

Submitted by brt on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 19:45

Today, three environmental activists were in court at Preston Magistrates Court following their action (1) which shut down a Cuadrilla Resources fracking (2) site beside the Ribble Estuary in Lancashire in December 2011.

The prosecution needs to demonstrate that Cuadrilla were operating lawfully and the prosecution lawyers were scrabbling to find an expert witness to support this position. Last minute phone calls by the prosecution team delayed the commencement of the trial.

Fracking on trial - again!

Submitted by brt on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 10:05

The safety of fracking will be challenged at Preston Magistrates Court today, as 3 people go on trial following a protest at Cuadrilla’s Hesketh Bank site, Lancashire, in December last year. (1) The trial is expected to last until Thursday.

On 1 December 2011, protestors from Bristol Rising Tide occupied the test drilling rig, shutting it down for 13 hours. (2) (3)

How could fracking affect Somerset?

Submitted by brt on Thu, 08/30/2012 - 20:41

How could Fracking affect Somerset?

A public meeting with a panel of stakeholders to answer your questions.

Tuesday 25th September 2012, 7 – 9pm, Wells Town Hall

Are you concerned about how hydraulic fracturing could affect Somerset? This is an opportunity to ask questions & listen to speakers both for and against fracking and its potential affects on communities and ecosystems across Somerset.

For more information or to request a space on the panel please email: info@frackfreesomerset.org

Statement of support for anti-fracking defendants, from Bristol Rising Tide

Submitted by brt on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 16:37

On the 2nd November 2011 the Cuadrilla Resources test drilling site at Banks in Lancashire was occupied by five protesters from Frack Off in an attempt to stop the spread of this destructive method of energy extraction to the British Isles. Subsequently, three of the protesters were charged with aggravated trespass.