Greenpeace begin 'fracking' during protest in Westminster

9 February 2016

Protestors set up a 10m high mock oil rig and drill in Parliament Square during an anti-fracking demonstration.

Greenpeace built the rig in Westminster to coincide with the first day of the independent Planning Inspectorate inquiry into whether fracking will go ahead in Lancashire.

The environmental pressure group installed a rig emitting a realistic flame which is firing up every hour using bio ethanol.

Hannah Martin, Greenpeace campaigner said “We have installed a life-like fracking rig and drill at Parliament Square to show them what people in Lancashire and beyond will have to endure if so-called Communities Minister Greg Clark forces fracking on a reluctant nation.”

“We are here to fight for the future of the English countryside. Ministers are pushing aside local democracy to bulldoze through their unpopular fracking plans."

Campaigners from Greenpeace have focused their calls to stop fracking towards Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark.

In late November Mr Clark said he would intervene and evaluate an appeal made by shale gas explorer Cuadrilla Resources to use fracking to drill in Lancashire against a local county council’s decision to reject the application.

Mr Clark will determine the outcome of Cuadrilla’s appeal following a public inquiry.

Greenpeace says it is also using the sound effects of drilling and lorries to try and get their message across to the House of Commons.

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Greenpeace begin 'fracking' during protest in Westminster

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