Anti Fracking protesters say they are not going anywhere despite seeing their camp site torn down by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
In statement released by HEY Frack Off, supporters of the Crawberry Hill Protection Camp claim that it was only targeted after Rathlin Energy UK Ltd publicly requested it at the planning meeting in October.
They said;
“After two arrests for Obstruction of the Highway protectors could only watch from a distance as their homes since May, tents, structures and caravans were dismantled and removed.”
“Some protectors remained inside the tower for several hours before being removed. Placards and banners from the local communities of Walkington, Newbald, Cherry Burton and Hull were dumped in a skip under piles of splintered wood.”
“The mood was calm, despite the emotions. We’re not going anywhere whilst Rathlin Energy still have permission to carry out a mini-frack test.”
Jon Mager of Frack Free East Yorkshire speaking about the days events said;
“It is particularly shocking in a society with a free press that even the media were prevented from walking down the road to bear witness to what was going on.”
“Some people at site also found their phones could not take pictures or video, as if electronically jammed, as also happened previously at West Newton.”
Richard Howarth from Hull & East Riding Green Party has branded the new location that has been allocated for people wishing to stage a protest as a joke, he said;
“It is essential that the camp remains in order to monitor what this cowboy company gets up to, especially after the problems at West Newton, because the inspectors simply don’t have the resources.”
“To suggest that a small pen down the road, out of view of the site, is reasonable in a society that allows peaceful protest, is a joke.”
Nothing against protesters but if we allowed everyone to set up ‘home’ where they wanted we would be in a right mess!