Chamber chief ‘disgusted’ by anti-fracking sit-in

THE head of North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce has criticised anti-fracking protestors, claiming they injured a member of her staff and damaged property.

But protestors, who believe fracking can cause air and water pollution, said the allegation of assault was a “nasty lie” and stressed they do not engage in violent action.

Around 11 members of the Reclaim the Power group occupied the chamber’s Blackpool office in Amy Johnson Way for about three hours yesterday.

They said they took the step because the building housed an office occupied by Cuadrilla Resources, one of the major fracking players, and because of the chamber’s links to the nascent fracking industry.

The chamber’s chief executive Babs Murphy sent TheBusinessDesk.com pictures showing a protestor wedged in a doorway and an upturned desk (pictured below).

In a statement she said: “We are shocked and disgusted by the recent targeting of the North and Western Lancashire Chambers of Commerce offices in Blackpool by professional protestors, resulting in one member of the chamber’s staff being injured and damage to the inside of the building. The attached photographs demonstrate that this was not a peaceful and law abiding protest.

“We absolutely support the democratic right to peaceful protest and freedom of speech. But ‘direct action’ against individuals with an opposing view is not only undemocratic, but reckless. Through their actions, activists have put the welfare of innocent bystanders at risk and caused disruption to local businesses.”

She added: “The chamber continues to support the plans to explore and develop for shale gas in the Bowland license area that could establish Lancashire at the heart of a successful UK and European industry.”

Ashley Grey, a spokesman for Reclaim the Power, said: “Whilst we do engage in civil disobedience and sometimes break the law for what we believe is the wider good, we don’t engage in violent action. That would never happen. I’ve spoken with everybody on that action and it’s a very nasty lie for them to be telling.”

He insisted no force was used and said the picture showed a protestor trying to sit down in the doorway. He was unaware of damage to property.

The occupation of the office was part of a day of action which included protests at the London office of shale firm IGas and Cuadrilla’s public relations agency PPS in Manchester. Police are investigating the sit-in at the chamber but did not make any arrests.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “An investigation is underway after a number of people occupied part of an office building at Blackpool Chamber of Commerce at Amy Johnson Way. Around 15 people forced their way into the office space at about midday on Monday.

“A number of others, believed to number up to 100, protested outside the building but did not attempt to enter it. Those inside the building left at approximately 3pm.

“This is being treated as an offence of aggravated trespass and efforts are being made to identify those people who illegally entered the building. It was not felt appropriate given all the circumstances to make arrests at the time and we have obtained evidence that will assist the identification of those responsible.”