Today, a number of Lancashire business groups and trade unions have responded publicly and voiced their opposition to the announcement by a national activist network, Reclaim The Power, that they plan to disrupt Lancashire based companies in the fracking supply chain, during two weeks of direct action from 27th March. The business groups and trade union opposition is welcomed by Lancashire For Shale members.
The activists declared objective is to “disrupt the operations of companies supplying services and materials to the fracking industry, aiming to pressure them into dropping contracts.” Such tactics have already been experienced by some local members of the business community associated with the shale gas industry in recent weeks.
Throughout this dispute, Lancashire For Shale has fully supported the protesters’ right to protest as a fundamental part of a democratic society, provided this is done in a peaceful and lawful way.
It is now time for Lancashire’s law enforcement institutions to uphold the rights of local businesses to go about their activities, without unlawful obstruction or intimidation.
Furthermore, we regret the unnecessary cost of having to police these proposed activities, which will ultimately be borne by the Lancastrian tax payers. It is regrettable that national protesters are diverting police resources away from other operational areas, where they could be better deployed.
