CROWDS.. Daily protests have continued at the site near Belcoo
THE CULMINATION of a week’s’ worth of daily protests was one in which around 400 attended on Sunday evening.
Opposition has been growing following the announcement that fracking company Tamboran are to begin test drilling at a site in Belcoo in the coming weeks.
The test drilling, which will not involved ‘fracking’ is the first of two planned by the company and will give them more details of natural gas here.
Since the ‘opening day’ protest, held on Monday July 21, where around 300 were in attendance, there have been daily protests at the site – with protesters encouraging a larger attendance for the Sunday night.
Local cross-community, campaign group, Belcoo Frack Free, formed following the first night of protests, unveiled the first phase of its campaign to halt gas exploration works at Creenahoe Quarry near Belcoo.
Following a demonstration held on Sunday, a spokesman for Belcoo Frack Free said:
“Our campaign has established, and is maintaining, a continuous presence at the gates since Tamboran moved onsite last Monday (July 21). We are organising daily, peaceful evening protests which are attracting growing numbers and which end with locals and visitors providing a musical performance at the gates most nights.”
Over the weekend the group published a code of conduct ‘to ensure that our demonstrations remain peaceful and dignified and keep the focus on what Tamboran are doing at the site’.
A renovated mill is now in use as a campsite, the group said, ‘to accommodate the growing numbers of campaigners coming to support the protest from across Ireland and the UK’.
“The population of Fermanagh, from both communities, is highly concerned with the threat posed by this industry and remains implacably opposed to its development,” the spokesman concluded.
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