Shropshire drilling protest camp vows to stay on site

Anti-drilling protesters have said they will stay at a camp they have set up on the site of a proposed gas drilling site for as long as it takes until the plans are defeated.

The campaigners – who have set up a mini-fort dubbed "Castle Dudleston" – said they had been left in limbo after a decision on whether to allow Dart Energy to carry out exploratory drilling for coal bed methane at Brooklands Farm in Dudleston Heath, near Ellesmere.

But despite spending the past few months on the camp waiting for a decision, the protesters said they were undeterred by the latest delay and would continue to make a stand against the controversial drilling plans.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/10/29/telford-councillors-urged-to-oppose-fracking-at-meeting/

Despite members of Shropshire Council's north planning committee being opposed to the plans, no decision was made at a meeting on Friday as planning officers said the legal ramifications of refusing the bid would have to be considered.

A final ruling is expected in the near future.

One of the campaigners, known only as Freeborn Dan, said he and others who have been living on the site for the past few weeks were waiting to see what Shropshire Council's final decision was.

"We were originally told that the planning application had been thrown out there and then and it was only when we were able to get access to the internet that we could see that the final decision had been put back, which is disappointing," he said.

"When the final decision is made we are all expecting Dart Energy to appeal.

"If the appeal is heard quite quickly – in the next few weeks – then we will stay put.

"However if it is going to be a long, drawn out legal process, say over 12 months, they we may well 'break camp' to let the ground recover."

One of the local supporters of Castle Dudleston is Henry Curteis, whose business is close to the site.

He said: "I was very, very pleased that the Shropshire councillors had the courage to stand up and say they were mindful to refuse planning permission.

"Such applications as this one pose a serious threat to our aquifers.

"The thought of our water supply being lost is an abomination."

A Dart Energy spokesman said: "The council planning officer and solicitor were firmly of the view that the application be allowed, however the elected members disagreed.

"As a result council procedures require a further planning committee meeting before a formal decision is taken. That meeting has not yet been scheduled."