Greenpeace ‘fracking’ protest outside Osborne’s office

Mock equipment set up to highlight impact of gas-drilling practice

The environmental group Greenpeace has launched a protest against the Government’s push for ‘fracking’ outside the Cheshire constituency office of George Osborne.

A team of members has set up a fake drilling rig on a grassy area outside the office following news that fracking companies have issued licenses to start the gas-drilling practice in the area. The group also erected a sign on top of the sign for the local Conservative headquarters which read ‘Frack & Go’, along with signs on the road saying ‘We apologise for any inconvenience while we frack your town’.  

The site of the Greenpeace protest, complete with fences and men in hi-vis vests

(Image source - BBC News)

Greenpeace say they have conducted a poll for residents and found that around 72% are worried fracking will have an impact on their lives, be it through noise, pollution or by affecting housing prices. News that will alarm the Conservative party is that the poll also found that 12% of Tory voters will likely change allegiance if fracking is introduced to the area.

There have already been protests over the possibility of fracking sites elsewhere in the UK, including Blackpool, where an existing site was forced to close following claims the practice had caused two small scale earthquakes in the area. The EU has also criticised Osborne and the Coalition for what they see as a manic ‘dash for gas’.