Cuadrilla Scales Back Drilling Operations in Balcombe
Cuadrilla Resources is temporarily scaling back drilling operations ahead of the No Dash for Gas Action Camp, event organised by Reclaim Power and local residents opposed to fracking near Balcombe, Sussex.
‘We plan to resume full operations as soon as it is safe to do so… We will continue working closely with the police and local authorities throughout the planned protest and we continue to support the right to protest peacefully,’ reads a note released on Friday.
Reclaim the Power camp was set up by activists near Balcombe on Thursday evening.
“Cuadrilla’s announcement that they will halt drilling is already a victory for us, but it ‘s only a start. We would like to make sure they don’t frack in Balcombe, or anywhere else at all,” said protestor Luke Johnson.
The camp programme starts on Friday 16th. It should finish on Wednesday 21st.
“Cuadrilla’s exploration work at Balcombe involves drilling a conventional oil well. External groups protesting against hydraulic fracturing at Balcombe do so without any work proposal from Cuadrilla to judge. Any hydraulic fracturing proposal would require a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, public consultations and multi-agency regulatory reviews,” said Cuadrilla’s CEO Francis Egan.
A protest has been ongoing at the site for 19 days in opposition to test drilling for oil.