Hundreds turn out for Keep Kirdford and Wisborough ‘Green’ protest walk

Hundreds of concerned residents of Kirdford and Wisborough Green converged on land where an energy firm has proposed exploratory drilling between the two villages.

Public comments on Celtique Energie’s application before West Sussex County Council close this Thursday (October 24), and yesterday people took to the country lanes in a last ditch appeal to raise awareness and encourage people to make their feelings known.

Objections to the planning application can be made online at www.westsussex.gov.uk or by writing to the local authority quoting WSCC/083/13/KD.

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The Keep Kirdford and Wisborough ‘Green’ campaign group is urging objections to be site specific and not mention fracking, since the application is for exploratory drilling and does not mention hydraulic fracturing.

JPCT 181013 ( Fracking ). Proposed drilling site, Wisborough Green. Protestors L to R Tim, Kali, Prajna and Kris. Photo by Derek MartinJPCT 181013 ( Fracking ). Proposed drilling site, Wisborough Green. Protestors L to R Tim, Kali, Prajna and Kris. Photo by Derek Martin
JPCT 181013 ( Fracking ). Proposed drilling site, Wisborough Green. Protestors L to R Tim, Kali, Prajna and Kris. Photo by Derek Martin

However, earlier this year, Celtique Energie said in the County Times that if large shale deposits of oil or gas were to be found beneath the Sussex Weald, the exploratory well site could be ‘the first step towards fracking’ in the vicinity.

The potential of fracking in the area has drawn a small band of campaigners opposed to hydraulic fracturing to set up a camp on land adjacent to the proposed drill site.

Many of them had previously been living near Cuadrilla’s well site in the village of Balcombe which was subject to months of protest and disruption over the summer.

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But speaking to the County Times, the ‘protectors’ as they wished to be known said they were only temporarily stopping in the area to raise awareness while the application was at a critical phase.

To read their comments in full, plus a full report on Sunday’s walk see this Thursday’s County Times.

Meanwhile, the film Gaslands 2 is being shown at Wisborough Green village hall this evening (Monday October 21) at 7.30pm, for people who wish to find out more about the issues.

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