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Balcombe protectors win in High Court

On 16 Sep 2013 at 3:13pm Simon Welsh wrote:

High Court in London this morning for the case of the Balcombe protest camp being evicted by West Sussex County Council. The judge slapped the council into the middle of next week. Their case was flawed from the outset and it was pointed out that and the case will either be withdrawn or dismissed.... The protestors are allowed to stay on site for now. And WSCC will have to apply again for their eviction no earlier than 8th October.
What a victory.

Check it out here »

On 16 Sep 2013 at 5:54pm No F.I.B.S. wrote:

PRESS COMMENT Monday, September 16th FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No FiBS (No Fracking in Balcombe Society)
West Sussex case against Balcombe Camp 'deeply flawed'
This morning at the High Court of Justice, the Strand, a judge took less than an hour to dismiss the attempt by West Sussex County Council to evict the Balcombe Community Protection Camp. The case was �deeply flawed�, she said.
This was much more than a simple eviction. Given that the court notice was issued on Friday lunchtime, there had been little time for council for the defence to study the documents and prepare their case. There was no discussion of human rights law and freedom of assembly. And nowhere in the submission was it stated that Cuadrilla�s planning permission was to run out on September 28th. The judge ordered the case to be adjourned until October 8th. Council for the Camp expects it then to be either withdrawn or dismissed.
West Sussex County Council will pay costs. Council for the Balcombe Community Protection Camp, although acting pro bono, has asked that West Sussex Council Council should pay a donation to a pro bono charity fund.
A tense assembly of Balcombe villagers, anti-fracking campaigners and many protestors from the site filled Court 37 this morning - standing room only and permission from the judge to sit on the floor.
�Justice Prevails!� said Graham Mackie, who lives just beyond the village. �Thanks to all the wonderful people who made it happen. And the pro bono legal team who supported them. �
No FiBS member Douglas Wragg added: �This is very good news. This should send a message to the County about the sloppy way they�ve behaved throughout � over permissions and regulations, as well as over this eviction attempt.�
Cuadrilla are bound by the terms of their Planning permission to cap the well and leave the site by September 28th. The protest camp will remain, with the blessings and support of the majority of the Balcombe community, for as long as Cuadrilla occupy the site.
The Camp was rejoicing early afternoon: � We are so happy that we can now stay to finish our protest, and then leave in a peaceful way once Cuadrilla have left,� said a spokesperson. �This will give us time to clear and clean up. And to rethink and regroup, for future action against oil and gas drilling - in Balcombe and elsewhere in the country where new drilling sites are in the offing.�