Shale protesters enter Cuadrilla headquarters

Campaigners have managed to enter the Staffordshire headquarters of shale oil and gas exploration company Cuadrilla as protests continue surrounding the company's drilling rig in the village of Balcombe.

Two representatives for anti-fracking movement No Dash for Gas entered the building while other protesters hung banners off the building stating ‘Reclaim the Power’ and ‘Power to the People’.

Campaigners also blockaded the London headquarters of public relations and crisis management company Bell Pottinger, which represents Cuadrilla, hanging a large banner that stated ‘Bell Pottinger Fracking Liars’.

In a statement, No Dash for Gas said that protests “aim to highlight Balcombe’s struggle against Cuadrilla’s unwanted invasion into their community” for fear of “contaminated water, earthquakes, explosions, air pollution and industrialisation of the rural area”.

A statement from Cuadrilla, said: “Protesters forced their way into our Lichfield office, harassed our staff and chained themselves to filing cabinets. The police are on site dealing with this. We condemn all illegal direct actions against our people and operations.

“Despite the stresses, the morale of our people in Lichfield, Balcombe and elsewhere is fine. Our people, and the teams that support us are doing a magnificent job. They know that what we are doing is legal, approved, and safe, and that shale gas is essential to improve our energy security, heat our homes, and create jobs and growth.

“Clearly we are held to one set of legally enforceable standards while some protesters believe that they can set out and follow their own.”

Debby Petersen, one of the protesters taking part in the action, said: “Whilst local resistance at Balcombe has halted Cuadrilla’s operations for the time being, in this headquarters in Lichfield they are planning further dangerous exploration for shale gas in the UK, which cannot be allowed to continue.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transition to a decentralised, clean, affordable energy system that communities have control over.”