Protesters have pledged to mount a day-and-night campaign of resistance against a fracking company as it plans to start exploratory oil drilling in an English village.
Up to 50 residents and anti-fracking campaigners obstructed a site entrance in Balcombe, near Lewes, East Sussex, where Cuadrilla is expected to start test drilling in days.
Cuadrilla has said it intends only to conduct exploratory drilling in a temporary operation which will not include hydraulic fracturing.
“If we can slow (Cuadrilla) down then hopefully a groundswell of public opinion will rise up among people who don’t want this to take place,” said protester Simon Medhurst.
“We want to stop any fracking because we believe it poisons natural water supplies. There will also be a blight on the landscape with the amount of drilling operations.”
In his bid to hold up work, Mr Medhurst said he hopes to “sink a chamber” and attach himself to a choke chain in an effort to prevent equipment getting on site.
Former Liberal Democrat mayor of Telscombe, near Brighton, Marina Pepper, 45, who has appeared as a Page 3 model, said Chancellor George Osborne was relying on cheap gas to “solve everything”.
The eco-campaigner said: “George Osborne has got a very wrong, short-term solution to the economy and he is contributing to a very huge problem for humanity.”
At today’s gathering, protesters, including many young children, played, sang songs and erected banners saying “No more dirty energy” and “It’s fracking bonkers” as police officers kept watch.
Tree stumps and branches were dragged across the entrance, preventing a lorry carrying Cuadrilla equipment from entering the site.
Cuadrilla began delivery of the main drill rig to the Balcombe site this week, saying that the delivery and erection of the rig and associated components will take around four days.
West Sussex County Council granted Cuadrilla planning permission to undertake exploration work in 2010.
Cuadrilla has said that, if it finds any supplies, a series of extensive technical, environmental and public consultations would take place before any further decisions are made.
The company said: “Cuadrilla’s forthcoming activity at Balcombe is for exploratory drilling only and is a temporary operation that will not include hydraulic fracturing. Should Cuadrilla wish to undertake further activity, they would need to apply for new permissions and licences from the relevant regulatory authorities.
“We have communicated what we are doing to the local community through information sessions and written communications.
“Furthermore, we have been in regular contact with the parish council and other local councils as well as going through all the necessary planning and permit applications to undertake this work.
“We will continue to inform the community of our actions as we progress.”
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