Anti-fracking protesters have met council bosses for talks after they pitched up tents outside their offices following a High Court case.
Around 25 people with nine tents gathered for a peaceful protest outside County Hall in Chichester, West Sussex, from Saturday.
They moved in after the High Court last week granted West Sussex County Council a possession order for verges at Balcombe amid concerns protesters camped by the busy road were causing a hazard.
Balcombe was at the centre of national anti-fracking protests during the summer as energy firm Cuadrilla conducted test drilling on the outskirts of the village.
While most activists slowly moved on after Cuadrilla packed up, a small band of campaigners stayed on, prompting the council to take legal action.
The authority argued there was a safety risk linked to the encampment because the B2036 is unlit with a 60mph speed limit.
Conservative West Sussex County Council leader Louise Goldsmith met the protesters today for a “constructive exchange of views” on the national issue of fracking.
She intends to write for a second time to David Cameron highlighting the need for a nationwide debate about the facts surrounding the controversial extraction method, and further talks with activists will take place next month.
Ms Goldsmith said: “Today’s conversation has produced a number of positive outcomes, and we all have a closer understanding of the views of some people in our local communities.
“We have agreed to meet the same group again in December when we will discuss how best to facilitate a wider event to look at all aspects of fracking. This would also include those in favour of this method as well as technical experts from both sides of the argument.
“I hope we made the point clearly that, as a planning authority, we have to be independent and impartial when dealing with any application for planning permission. It would be wrong to pre-judge any application, and these have to be dealt with on their merits.
“I now hope that the people who have been camped outside County Hall since Saturday will soon leave our property. They are immediately outside a building which is not only used by the council, but also hired out to the public.”
A spokesman for Worthing Against Fracking questioned whether there had been any consultation between the county council and the emergency services over fracking, and called for more transparency and public reassurance.
Vanessa Vine, from Frack Free Sussex, said: “It’s time for West Sussex County Council to remember their responsibilities to protect Sussex residents and local ecology, rather than pandering to invasive, damaging and highly-dangerous international corporate interests.”
West Sussex resident Peter Whittick said: “The objection is that West Sussex County Council is prepared to push through shale-gas and oil exploration, regardless of what local people and their supporters from further afield in Sussex want, and is prepared to do so forcefully and without any social licence to do so.
“The evidence for this has been seen through the intimidation of peaceful protesters by an out of proportion and heavy-handed police presence, and the attempted eviction of the Balcombe protection camp – a camp which was welcomed and supported by 85% of the residents of Balcombe.”
Recommended for you
