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Balcombe oil drilling due to start after fracking protests Balcombe oil drilling starts after fracking protests
(35 minutes later)
Energy company Cuadrilla is making final preparations before it begins drilling for oil after being held up by protesters at a site in West Sussex. Energy company Cuadrilla has begun drilling for oil at a site in West Sussex after being held up by more than a week of protests.
Balcombe Parish Council said on its website it expected drilling to begin on Friday morning. The company said it was still testing the equipment. The company said it started drilling in Balcombe at 11:15 BST after completing tests on the equipment.
Protesters gathered outside the site, near Balcombe, for the ninth day. Protesters have gathered outside the site for the ninth day and more heavy lorries have gone through the gates.
Campaigners fear the test drilling could lead to hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, at the site.
Six people were arrested on Thursday after protesters blocked the site entrance with an antique fire engine.Six people were arrested on Thursday after protesters blocked the site entrance with an antique fire engine.
Cuadrilla spokesman Matt Lambert said the company had made very good progress with getting lorries delivering drilling equipment on to the woodland site. Cuadrilla spokesman Matt Lambert said the company had made good progress in getting lorries delivering drilling equipment on to the woodland site.
"We have had a significant amount of disruption from protesters and the police have been dealing with that in the proper way," he said."We have had a significant amount of disruption from protesters and the police have been dealing with that in the proper way," he said.
"They have a perfect right to make their point of view known. "They have a perfect right to make their point of view known."
"But we are getting through it and we are quite close to the point of making progress towards drilling."
A total of 31 people have been arrested, including the daughter of Kinks star Ray Davies and Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde.A total of 31 people have been arrested, including the daughter of Kinks star Ray Davies and Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde.
Natalie Hynde, 30, glued herself to her boyfriend, veteran environmental activist Simon "Sitting Bull" Medhurst, 55, to form a "human lock" at the site entrance on Wednesday.Natalie Hynde, 30, glued herself to her boyfriend, veteran environmental activist Simon "Sitting Bull" Medhurst, 55, to form a "human lock" at the site entrance on Wednesday.
On Tuesday human rights activist Bianca Jagger called on people across the UK to join protesters, who fear the tests will lead to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. On Tuesday, human rights activist Bianca Jagger called on people across the UK to join protesters.
One campaigner, Miranda, from Cuckfield, said on Friday she had been at the protest every day to show some local support.One campaigner, Miranda, from Cuckfield, said on Friday she had been at the protest every day to show some local support.
"They are here fighting for our local community," she said."They are here fighting for our local community," she said.
"A lot of people do not want this here or anywhere in the UK for that matter.""A lot of people do not want this here or anywhere in the UK for that matter."
Another protester, in a group who travelled from Blackpool, said: "I cannot live with what is what is going onAnother protester, in a group who travelled from Blackpool, said: "I cannot live with what is what is going on
"They are raping our countryside and it is going to happen in Blackpool worse than anywhere else."They are raping our countryside and it is going to happen in Blackpool worse than anywhere else.
"Most people accept there is an energy crisis and that things need to change but this is not the way forward.""Most people accept there is an energy crisis and that things need to change but this is not the way forward."
Cuadrilla has said it would need fresh permission to carry out fracking.Cuadrilla has said it would need fresh permission to carry out fracking.
Chief executive Francis Egan said he did not think the community would be disrupted once drilling began.Chief executive Francis Egan said he did not think the community would be disrupted once drilling began.
"The community should not really notice much activity at all unless they want to walk down to the site and see it," he said."The community should not really notice much activity at all unless they want to walk down to the site and see it," he said.
"There will not be a lot of noise."There will not be a lot of noise.
"The testing does involve some flaring if there is gas but we are not expecting to find gas.""The testing does involve some flaring if there is gas but we are not expecting to find gas."