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| Support day for pipe 'squatters' | Support day for pipe 'squatters' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Protesters against a gas pipeline being laid across Wales have demonstrated by marching through a Swansea Valley town. | |
| It was in support of opponents of the 200-mile (322km) pipe who are occupying a construction site in Trebanos in Neath Port Talbot for a sixth day. | |
| About 50 people were involved with amny tying green ribbons to the pipes as a sign of opposition. | |
| National Grid says the Pembrokeshire to Gloucestershire scheme, is vital to securing the UK's future gas supplies. | National Grid says the Pembrokeshire to Gloucestershire scheme, is vital to securing the UK's future gas supplies. |
| Organised by the Safe Haven Network protest group, people marched through the town to the site of the pipeline. | |
| Rachel Evans from Trebanos has been one of the organisers of the march and says she initially became involved in the protest because of safety fears of blasting works planned close to homes and the local school. | Rachel Evans from Trebanos has been one of the organisers of the march and says she initially became involved in the protest because of safety fears of blasting works planned close to homes and the local school. |
| The pipeline's route runs from Milford through the Brecon Beacons | The pipeline's route runs from Milford through the Brecon Beacons |
| She said: "I must admit, my level of concern has grown about the pipeline right through Wales so very fast I decided that I'm opposing the pipeline from its conception in Milford right the way through to Tirley. | She said: "I must admit, my level of concern has grown about the pipeline right through Wales so very fast I decided that I'm opposing the pipeline from its conception in Milford right the way through to Tirley. |
| "I do accept the energy case yes, I do realise that obviously we do need to be able to heat up our homes and we do need lighting. | "I do accept the energy case yes, I do realise that obviously we do need to be able to heat up our homes and we do need lighting. |
| "But not at the sacrifice of safety. Are we sure this is a safe project? That's my concern." | "But not at the sacrifice of safety. Are we sure this is a safe project? That's my concern." |
| But John Roberts from the energy specialists, Platts, said the pipeline which will stretch from Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire to Tirley in Gloucestershire, was vital to ensure Britain's energy needs are met. | But John Roberts from the energy specialists, Platts, said the pipeline which will stretch from Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire to Tirley in Gloucestershire, was vital to ensure Britain's energy needs are met. |
| "It is absolutely necessary, it is one fifth of Britain's gas, about 8% of all British energy, gas oil coal, the lot," he said. | "It is absolutely necessary, it is one fifth of Britain's gas, about 8% of all British energy, gas oil coal, the lot," he said. |
| "The problem is we don't really have a clear alternative. | "The problem is we don't really have a clear alternative. |
| "In the long run, yes we can boost renewables, but it takes a long time to bring it online. | "In the long run, yes we can boost renewables, but it takes a long time to bring it online. |
| Activists have claimed squatters' rights | Activists have claimed squatters' rights |
| "And you've still got a problem that renewables aren't very good at providing the stuff that heats your fire in the morning, gets your central heating going all day and not just when the wind blows." | "And you've still got a problem that renewables aren't very good at providing the stuff that heats your fire in the morning, gets your central heating going all day and not just when the wind blows." |
| He said unless the pipeline was built there was a "possibility" of a power supply failure across the UK. | He said unless the pipeline was built there was a "possibility" of a power supply failure across the UK. |
| Meanwhile, activists occupying the site in Trebanos where the pipe is being laid, have claimed they have established squatters' rights by camping inside the pipes being laid and that it would take a court possesion order to remove them. | Meanwhile, activists occupying the site in Trebanos where the pipe is being laid, have claimed they have established squatters' rights by camping inside the pipes being laid and that it would take a court possesion order to remove them. |
| The pipeline is being built to transport imported gas supplies arriving at Milford Haven as Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). | The pipeline is being built to transport imported gas supplies arriving at Milford Haven as Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). |
| Protestors fear the pipeline is unsafe and damages the countryside it passes through. | Protestors fear the pipeline is unsafe and damages the countryside it passes through. |
| But National Grid have said it is safe and said it was committed to minimising the impact on the environment and it remained "anxious to find an amicable solution" to the protest. | But National Grid have said it is safe and said it was committed to minimising the impact on the environment and it remained "anxious to find an amicable solution" to the protest. |