Grandmothers at fracking frontline
Three Friends from Cheltenham joined anti-fracking protestors in Lancashire
Three Quakers from Cheltenham Meeting recently travelled four hours to support an anti-fracking group of grandmothers and parents protesting at Preston New Road in Lancashire.
One of the Cheltenham Friends who made the journey was Dorothy Carson. She said: ‘I was deeply touched by how warmly we were welcomed into the camp, which has become a temporary home for many of the Lancashire residents who have been motivated to take direct action against this harmful industry.
‘I was also inspired by their perseverance in the face of the government’s callous disregard of the will of the people there.’
The local council had denied a licence to a fracking company, Cuadrilla, but this was overruled by central government.
Cuadrilla, Dorothy Carson added: ‘…recently erected the fracking drill that dominates the skyline in the middle of a stretch of green land and environmental ill-effects are already evident’.
She said: ‘Facing the line of police officers, with three police vans, guarding the Cuadrilla gates and workforce, we sang protest songs and linked hands in a gesture of solidarity. One protestor said: “I am concerned about the police brutality I have heard about from peaceful protestors. The police should be serving the community not acting as publicly paid security guards for Cuadrilla”.’
Alison Crane, another Friend from Cheltenham, explained: ‘I’m inspired by the heart in evidence here and the steadfastness of this community.
‘Thank you, Lancashire, for standing up for all of us who care about the land and the future of our grandchildren and generations to follow.’
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