29/07/2013

Protesters Delay West Sussex Oil Drilling

Protesters have delayed the start of exploratory oil drilling in West Sussex for at least 24 hours.

Cuadrilla, the company behind the drilling, has said that protesters have blocked the entrance to the woodland site near Balcombe.

It follows the stalling of delivery tankers for three days last week by protesters.

At 09:45 this morning the first lorry was able to enter the site after police secured a cleared area following scuffles with protesters.

Permission was given to Cuadrilla to extend the sites operating hours from 13:00 to 16:00, but they stopped sending vehicles in around 14:00.

(MH/CD)

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