Blackpool councillors charged with obstruction in anti-fracking protest

Gina Dowding, Julie Brickles and Miranda Cox accused of blocking highway in demonstration against oil and gas company Cuadrilla

Climate change activists demonstrating against Cuadrilla in Blackpool (AFP/Getty)

Three local councillors have appeared in Blackpool Magistrates Court charged with willfully obstructing a highway as part of an anti-fracking protest against oil and gas production company Cuadrilla.

They also face secondary charges as a result of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act, which prohibits depriving workers of their tools or clothing.

The three councillors - Gina Dowding, Julie Brickles and Miranda Cox - protested alongside local residents from the area on behalf of the environmentalist group Reclaim the Power. The protests come after Lancashire County Council’s decision to reject Cuadrilla’s drilling proposals was overruled by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid and the Government last November.

These court appearances are only a small part of the 100 arrests made due to the month long anti-fracking protest organised by Reclaim the Power.

The protests have taken place throughout the last year and over that time public support for fracking has dropped to an all-time low.

Reclaim the Power told The Independent the protests “reaffirm the dedication of this community to stand up to this dirty industry,” saying that they have fired “a clear warning shot to the industry and investors that they have no social license to operate.”

In defence of the councillors, they stated, “standing up for your community should not be a crime.”

Cuadrilla also commented, saying they have “a democratic right to carry out our lawful work without any of our staff or contractors suffering intimidation. The right to protest should not supersede the right to work.”

They condemned the activists “aggressive behaviour”, which they claim put road users near the site at “serious risk” and “wasted valuable police resources.”

All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been granted unconditional bail until their trial date in November.