Villagers hold picnic with Lancashire anti-fracking community

Wearing anti-fracking colours of yellow and black, with plenty of banners, locals joined Keep Billingshurst Frack Free for a picnic on the green, next to the Blacksmith’s Arms, near the Adversane Lane junction.

This spot was chosen to highlight a nearby local site, further down Adversane Lane – Broadford Bridge – with permission for the same exploratory drilling, by Celtique Energie.

Emily Anderson, who lives in Billingshurst and helped organise the event, said: “Many of us would have liked to have gone to Lancashire to show our support in person, but couldn’t for various reasons, so we’ve got together to show our support with the people there who have fought long and hard to keep fracking away.

“We really hope the decision sends the frackers packing.”

Martin Dale, a resident from Pulborough, said: “This is an important decision being made today. If exploratory drilling gets the go ahead in Lancashire, it could easily begin in Billingshurst this year.”

Keep Billingshurst Frack Free will be holding an awareness event on Saturday July 4, from 5pm onwards, at the King’s Arms on Billingshurst High Street. Local anti-fracking bands will be playing, plus face painting and a bouncy castle for the kids, while KBFF talk to anyone wanting to find out more about fracking and the Broadford Bridge site, two miles out of the village.

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