Dear Alison,
I write as a resident of Blackpool (up here in the 'desolate/unloved' North) - we have been trying very hard for around 2 years to get Cuadrilla to stop drilling here; they have drilled 4 wells, with one failing due to the earthquakes and another now out of use due to equipment that is stuck inside. The one that caused the earthquakes is inadequately sealed and we are struggling to get a transparent picture of the plans around how they will deal with potential ongoing risks from it.
This image is of the proposal for well sites where I live:
Cuadrilla have been into our places of education and business, in order to 'sponsor' things and win over and divide the community - who are largely ill-informed as the public meetings are not broadly publicised or attended... most people just don't have the time or knowledge to even look at what this is all about - complicated subject indeed.
That you are experiencing what it is like to have Cuadrilla doing business in your community is such a sad thing. I have been down to visit the camp over the past three weekends to see such wonderful villagers and concerned residents from across the UK, coming together to question the haste with which this business is undertaken; to question the history of accidents and harm that this industry is known for; to question the honesty and transparency of Cuadrilla who were only this year in trouble with the Advertising Standards Authority over exaggerations of safety claims in their literature.
You said in your post Alison that you were not aware of an invitation to people from outside of Balcombe to join in opposition to Cuadrilla’s drilling there and I understand how worrying this must be ...BUT I think it very important to note that the harm to air and water that could come when Cuadrilla are working, is something that will impact the residents everywhere - air and water have no respect for borders so it is to be expected that others from nearby and further afield will indeed be there.
I attended a meeting last Friday evening in Balcombe where a full room of village residents were indeed in favour of getting help to be heard – many had voted NO to Cuadrilla’s plans to drill, had signed petitions, objected to planning, written to MPs and Councillors – all to no avail.
You say that you have been balancing opinions and ‘tolerating extreme views’ and I don’t really understand what you mean? Is opposition to drilling an ‘extreme view’ or simply how they are expressing that view (genuine question)?
What Cuadrilla are doing to our air, water, agriculture and communities is criminal (even if the paperwork paints it differently); concerned citizens asking for a potential harm to stop BUT not being listened to in our democracy, is criminal; standing up to this criminality is not easy and because the industry is brutal and powerful, we have very little we can use. Currently, my weapons are truth and determination – but these have got me nowhere; at what point do I look at the law that wraps our law enforcement around corporate vehicles and tries to silence objection and wonder, what IS legal?
When that drill leaves Balcombe, it's coming back here to the North - where no-one seems to hear us when we scream for help; we would be hugging every person that came to stand in opposition with us.
Excellently put. People should always question these quislings.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina,
ReplyDeleteJust a note of support for what its worth. I really feel for you Tina and I really regret what has been undone in the past week. Balcombe is a complicated place, I've been here almost ten years and I'm viewed on as being the new boy by some residents.
I do know Alison, Alison is walking a tightrope with public opinion in Balcombe, she is head of the BPC and has to say that really, she has been fielding calls from concerned residents and we've had some hysterical ones sent to Nofibs, that some members really do take exception too. Dont under estimate how truly conservative it is round here, people dont like change and when just one villager starts complaining that there is an anarchist in the parish hall, and that someone is engrained in a tightly knit community it has an effect, a very negative and very harmful effect.
It angers me that after so much positive feeling at and after the meeting, its degenerated into suspicion and mistrust.
Another thing that upsets some residents is direct action and breaking the law. Alison has to be clear on this, its not personal at all. She doesn't secretly support Cuadrilla, I dont think the Quisling comment is on, really. Do we really want further division? You want a Quisling, how about Francis Maude? I can tell you frustrating as she is at times, its not Alison.
Bottom line is I like you Tina, and I like Ewa and everyone I met at the meeting, but I'd be lying if I said I knew who is coming, thats the public facet of reclaim the power, what else is there?
I'm going to meet with you guys again, not as Nofibs but as Steve. Lets meet again and see what we can do legally and peacefully.
Yours in support
Steve
Tsk tsk Tina - I see you've moderated my comment and not displayed it because it doesn't fit your narrative; you don't want others to hear the truth; and, presumably, because you know you can't advance a convincing rebuttal. Poor show Tina, but confirms exactly what I already knew. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am publishing as notifications come and have not rejected any comments. Please be patient for responses as I have been working such a lot the past few days in order to get time off. Currently preparing to travel so cannot give the considered response your two require till after the weekend, sincere apologies.
ReplyDeleteSee, Tina, I gave you the benefit of the doubt there and trusted you when you said you hadn't moderated my comment so it didn't display just because it doesn't fit your narrative......looks like you can't be trusted after all. You say you want an open, transparent debate, but in reality you just want to sell your version. Shame on you :-(
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what comments you are talking about Anonymous... all pending, have been published. No call to 'shame' me or discuss your trust issues, please feel free to send further comments that will, as always - be published.
ReplyDelete