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Article

27 Aug 2014

Author:
Jemma Collins, Blue & Green Tomorrow

UK: Anti-fracking protesters claim Cuadrilla's legal action against them is attempt to inhibit their "right to protest in the future" - includes company comments

"Cuadrilla taking legal action against anti-fracking protest group", 27 August 2014

Energy firm Cuadrilla is taking legal action against protestors in Lancashire, with Manchester High Court to hear the case on Thursday August 28.Cuadrilla, along with 10 local landowners, is serving a “claim for possession against trespassers” to those camping on farmland at Preston New Road near Little Plumpton. A group of activists have been camping at the site since August 7 in a bid to raise awareness over the negative impacts of fracking...Tina Rothery, one of the protestors involved in the dispute said...“The fact that Cuadrilla is taking us to court the day after we are due to have left is absurd, and can only be because they want to inhibit our right to protest in the future....The company has also asked for injunctions at all other proposed exploration sites. “As with all the recent so-called ‘direct action’ by protestors, this illegal occupation of farmland, damaging a local farmer’s business and causing stress to his family should not be tolerated,” saidFrancis Egan, chief executive of Cuadrilla. “Whilst we accept the right to peaceful protest, this and other recent actions by protestors have been far from peaceful. This is why we are joining with local farmers to start legal proceedings that we hope will prevent this kind of activity in the future.”