A man from Westbury is among a dozen people, including two teenage boys, have been charged in connection with demonstrations over plans by a company to drill the earth, police have said.

Officers have also made two further arrest yesterday morning at the Cuadrilla

site in  Balcombe, West Sussex.

Two women were detained, one for assault on police and the other under
the Trade Union Labour Relations Act.

This follows 16 arrests yesterday, which resulted in the 12 being
charged.

The charges came as anti-fracking campaigners gathered for a third day
in the village where Cuadrilla is poised to start test drilling.

The village has become a focal point for campaigners who have
highlighted fears linked to fracking - where high-pressure liquid is
pumped into cracks in the rock to split shale rock and release gas.

In Balcombe, some protesters, who included a former glamour model, a
"professional clown" and veteran eco-campaigners, vowed to mount a
24-hour campaign of resistance against fracking. All of those charged do
not live in the village, with some coming from as far afield as Wales.

Superintendent Steve Whitton from Sussex Police said: "I have officers
at the site to ensure people can demonstrate peacefully and help
facilitate the rights of those to go about their lawful business - this
means allowing workers to access the site.

"We are trying to carefully balance the needs of everyone and we will
continue to show a proportionate response to the challenge we are
facing. Our aim at Balcombe is to provide a safe and secure environment
for protesters, residents and the contractors alike, to minimise
disproportionate disruption to the local community and to prevent crime
and disorder. Protesters are being asked to clear entrances to allow
access to the site and where they have refused following repeated
requests we have arrested them."

All those charged have have been dealt with under Section 241 of the
Trade Union Labour Relations Act for attempting to stop drivers and
other workers from accessing the site:

They are: Ezra Lynch, 31, a circus employee; Samantha Duncan, 29, of
Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton, and Marcin Swiercz, 35, a handyman from
London, will appear before Crawley Magistrates on August 14 along with
Mark Mansbridge, 51, a voluntary charity worker, of Paddock Road, Lewes;
Nancy Walker, 25, of Over Street, Brighton; Richard Millar, 29, of Upper
Gloucester Road, Brighton; Frances Crack, 31, a teacher, of Taffs Well,
Cardiff, and Justin Preece, of Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan.

A 15-year-old boy  from Rustington, West Sussex,  and a A 17-year-old
unemployed boy from Brighton have also been charged and will appear
before Crawley Youth Court on August 6. Paul Deacon, a writer, aged 50,
of Selden Lane, Worthing, West Sussex, will appear before Crawley
magistrates on  August 7.

In addition to being charged under the Trade Union Labour Relations Act
Michael Atkins, 37, of Westbury, Wiltshire, has also been charged with
assault on police and he will also appear before Crawley magistrates on
August 14.

A 56-year-old man from Lewes has been cautioned. A 52-year-old man from
Lewes has been given police bail until August 12 in relation to causing
danger to road users and for attempting to stop drivers and other
workers from accessing the site.

In yesterday's incident it is alleged that some protesters moved a tree
across the entrance to the site, blocking access, but all arrests were
made peacefully, police said.

Some activists, who are concerned about the use of chemicals in
fracking, described the police response as "disproportionate".

They also called on the Government to change its policy on on-shore oil
and gas exploration as they warned that oil rigs and frack sites could
become widespread.

Cuadrilla said obstacles blocking the road have now been removed and
delivery of equipment has resumed. It hopes to start drilling "as soon
as is reasonably possible".

The company has said it intends only to conduct exploratory drilling in
a temporary operation which will not include hydraulic fracturing.

 

Sussex Police said that a number of vehicles have been brought into the

site during the course of the day by the company and there were up to 80
people protesting.

A spokeswoman said: "Caudrilla had yesterday obtained authority to
extend their operating hours for today from 1pm until 4pm.

"Following representations from the protest groups and advice from
Sussex Police, Cuadrilla agreed to stop bringing the vehicles into the
site shortly after 2pm in recognition that the local residents and
protesters had not been fully consulted on this change.

"There have been no injuries to any parties today and the disruption to
the local community and road network has been kept to a minimum.

"A police presence will be maintained throughout the weekend and police
liaison officers will continue to work with all parties involved."