Fracking under way: Company starts test drilling for oil in the English countryside despite nine days of protests
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- Energy company Cuadrilla begun experimental drilling at 11.15am today
- Protesters fear that the drilling will lead to fracking on the West Sussex site
- Police lead trucks and equipment past protesters at the gates this morning
- 'Incredulous' campaigners described the drilling as a 'threat to our geology'
- A 19-year-old woman and a man have been arrested at the site today
By Steve Nolan
PUBLISHED: 07:24 EST, 2 August 2013 | UPDATED: 09:48 EST, 2 August 2013
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An energy company has begun exploratory oil drilling in the English countryside despite campaigners who fear that the tests will lead to fracking starting a ninth day of fierce protest.
The drilling, being carried out by energy company Cuadrilla, was delayed for several days because of the protests which were aimed at stopping the delivery of trucks and equipment to the plant.
But despite demonstrators going to such lengths as super gluing their hands together around the site's gates in recent days, drilling finally began shortly after 11am.
Police formed a line of protection as trucks carrying supplies and equipment were driven on to the site earlier this morning.
Finally started: A police line escorts a truck through protesters at the site of drilling being carried out by an energy company in West Sussex this morning
Ready to begin: A truck carrying equipment is pictured making its way to the site despite fierce protests
Still campaigning: Protesters stand in front of police after they had escorted a lorry onto the West Sussex site
Officers had been seen using a saw to remove a man chained to the ladder of a fire engine which had been used as a makeshift blockade to the site's entrance.
A Cuadrilla spokesman said today: 'We started test drilling at 11.15am, and we will do a 3,000ft vertical well. We will be there for two to three months.'
Protesters, including many women and children, waving anti-fracking banners had earlier blocked the road leading to the site.
A 19-year-old woman and a man have been arrested by police at the site so far today on suspicion of assaulting police.
Worried: Protesters gathered at the site for a ninth consecutive day
Forlorn: Despite the best efforts of protesters, exploratory drilling begun today
Fears: Campaigners are worried about the possible effects of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing
Demonstration over: Police cut a protester free this morning after he had chained himself to the ladder of a fire engine that was being used as a blockade at the site entrance
Cut free: The man was then led away from the top of the fire engine by police
Campaigners fear the project at Lower Stumble, near Balcombe, West Sussex, could lead Cuadrilla to go on to conduct hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
The controversial method of fracking involves high pressure liquid being pumped deep underground to split shale rock and release gas supplies.
Opponents of fracking have highlighted concerns about potential water contamination and environmental damage, as well as small-scale earthquakes.
Blockade: The fire engine had been parked across the entrance to the West Sussex site where drilling has now started
Chained up: Demonstrators had chained themselves to the decommissioned fire truck until police brought in cutting equipment to move them on
On the march: A woman pushes a pram past a line of police that surrounded a decommissioned fire engine used as a blockade
Moved on: A recovery vehicle was eventually brought in to move the truck out of the way and pave the way for equipment and supplies to be delivered to the site
Reacting to the start of drilling, Vanessa Vine, of Frack Free Sussex, said: 'I’m absolutely livid and incredulous. This is a violation of our geology that could threaten our water, fresh air and our children.
'I cannot comprehend why the people in Government who are supposedly responsible for protecting the people have not only allowed this, but forced this through.
'There is a political mania around this. I have no faith in our governmental process, and I feel like Balcombe is sacrificial.
'This is going to spark the biggest environmental movement we have seen.'
Front line: Women and children pictured protesting against tests that they fear will lead to fracking this morning
Disruption: Drilling had been delayed for several days due to fierce protests at the site
Police have put security measures in place around the test site’s entrance as dozens of anti-fracking protesters turned out to halt deliveries.
More than 30 people have been arrested since last Friday, mainly on suspicion of obstructing deliveries, including Natalie Hynde, 30, the daughter of the Kinks’ Ray Davies and the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde.
Natalie Hynde’s boyfriend, veteran eco campaigner Simon 'Sitting Bull' Medhurst, 55, was also held after the pair superglued their hands together around the gate for around two hours.
This week Cuadrilla’s chief executive, Francis Egan, reacted to concerns surrounding the drilling by saying his firm has 'no intention of ruining the countryside and won’t ruin the countryside'.
Mr Egan insisted fracking was safe and would not pose a threat to the public or people’s drinking water.
He said 'significant' amounts of oil and gas could be made available through fracking in the UK.
Entertaining: A protester plays the bagpipes close to a line of police as equipment is escorted through blockades by police
In for the long haul: Campaigners begun a ninth day of protests at the gates of the West Sussex site earlier today
Danger: Campaigners described the start of exploratory drilling today as a 'threat to our geology'
Safeguarding their future: Rory aged seven and his friend Jasmin, also seven, years old have been among protesters trying to stop drilling by the energy firm
The sensitivity of the subject was highlighted after former Government energy adviser Lord Howell issued an apology for suggesting fracking could be used in 'desolate' north east England without any impact on the surrounding environment.
Lord Howell went on to provoke further criticism when he tried to clarify his comments by suggesting he actually meant 'unloved' areas of the country such as Lancashire.
His attempt at clearing up the controversy prompted Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to urge Lord Howell to be quiet.
Mr Clegg also suggested on his regular LBC radio phone-in that the Conservatives were getting 'over-excited' about the controversial extraction technique’s potential benefits.
Desperate measures: Natalie Hynde, daughter of the Kinks' Ray Davies, and her partner Simon Medhurst glued themselves together at the site gates
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