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Court adjourns decision on “wide-ranging” injunction against protests at UKOG oil drilling sites

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Five women campaigning against the oil industry in southern England have secured a delay to a wide-ranging injunction that sought to outlaw protests against an exploration company.

The High Court in London adjourned a case today brought by UK Oil and Gas, which aimed to restrict actions against its sites in West Sussex and Surrey.

UKOG had described the injunction as a “standard application” and asked the court to deal with it today. But a senior court official told the company:

Chief Master Marsh adjourned the case for about six weeks when it will be heard by a High Court judge.

The campaign alliance, Weald Action Group, welcomed the outcome, saying it allowed local people to take stock without the threat of legal action against them.

Prohibition of lawful acts that intend to injure economic interests

The draft orders, issued earlier this month, sought to prohibit lawful acts by campaigners where the “predominant intention” was to injure UKOG’s “economic interests”.

If approved, the orders would prevent activities that breached the criminal law and some that did not. They would establish exclusion zones outside the sites at Broadford Bridge and Markwells Wood in West Sussex and Horse Hill in Surrey where campaign activity would be restricted. They would also prohibit people taking photographs of vehicles belonging to UKOG suppliers.

The orders have been challenged by five women from Sussex and Surrey. Four agreed to become named defendants in the case providing their exposure to UKOG’s costs was capped by the court. The fifth, also a named defendant, is seeking legal aid to fight the case.

Six other people, several of them local to sites where UKOG has an interest, told the court they wished to participate in the case.

One of them, Steve Ross Talbot, said:

Risk of fine or prison

The orders were originally made against “persons unknown”.

But the court heard that if anyone wanted to bring a challenge they would have to become a formal defendant in the case. This could open them to the risk of fines, prison or the seizure of assets if other people defied a future injunction.

Stephanie Harrison QC, representing Ann Stewart, Sue Jameson, Vicki Elcoate and Natasha Doane, said the order should never have been made.

UKOG should, she said, have identified in the draft orders any individuals who had committed unlawful activities listed in the injunction.

She accused UKOG of an “abuse of process”:

“Deterred from protesting”

UKOG’s proposed injunction is similar to one granted to the shale gas company, INEOS Upstream.

Ms Harrison said:

Constance Whiston, the fifth and youngest defendant outside the High Court, 19 March 2018. Photo: Weald Action Group

Stephen Simlett, for the fifth defendant, Constance Whiston, said:

He said the history of campaigns against UKOG went back several years. There was no evidence that the case should be heard urgently, he said.

Tim Polli, for UKOG, said:

He said:

Mr Polli said UKOG had not thought it appropriate to name individuals in the draft order. He said:

UKOG decided to seek an injunction after the occupation by protesters of the Horse Hill oil exploration site in Surrey at the end of November 2017, Mr Polli said.

He said the company had installed 24-hour security at Horse Hill. It hoped that an injunction would make this unnecessary in future.

UKOG said in a statement last night:

Consent and access problems at Markwells Wood

Asking for a month to prepare evidence, Ms Harrison said the three oil sites were all different and had to be treated separately.

One, at Markwells Wood, in the South Downs National Park, had no current planning permission and a breach of condition notice had been issued against UKOG, she said. The company no longer had access to the site for certain operations, the court heard.

“Good news”

After the hearing, Jane Mote, a spokesperson for Weald Action Watch, said

Bianca Jagger with Joe Corre, who is appealing against the INEOS injunction, outside the High Court, 19 March 2018. Photo: Weald Action Group

Before the hearing, the human rights campaigner, Bianca Jagger, told campaigners gathered outside the court:

More reaction

Brenda Pollack, Friends of the Earth south east England campaigner, said:

Keith Taylor MEP for south east England said today’s decision proved the importance of dedicated and passionate local residents and environmental campaigners:

  • The decision on whether costs for four of the challengers should be capped will be decided at a hearing on 29 March at the High Court.

Reporting from the High Court hearing was made possible by individual donations from DrillOrDrop readers

BY RUTH HAYHURST ON ( 28 COMMENTS )

Court adjourns decision on “wide-ranging” injunction against protests at UKOG oil drilling sites


Source: http://tapnewswire.com/2018/03/court-adjourns-decision-on-wide-ranging-injunction-against-protests-at-ukog-oil-drilling-sites/


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