Ineos wins injunction over shale gas sites

A HIGH Court judge has continued an injunction obtained by energy giant Ineos prohibiting unlawful activities such as trespass or obstruction at its shale gas sites.

Ineos had asked Mr Justice Morgan to extend the existing order, but environmental campaigners said it was both “unprecedented” and “draconian” and had urged the judge to discharge it.

The judge, who heard argument on complex areas of the law from the opposing sides during a hearing in London in October, announced his decision yesterday.

Campaigners claim the injunction will limit the right of people to protest against the activities of fracking companies and those linked to them.

Lawyers for Ineos said the order was to “prohibit unlawful activities on private and public land”, and not to “injunct lawful activity”.

Ineos Shale is involved in exploratory work such as geological surveys in the East Midlands, but not any hydraulic fracking.

Mr Justice Morgan made an interim order against “persons unknown” and two named individuals in September, rejecting argument that the potential impact of the injunction on the human rights of those wishing to protest was a “knock-out blow” against it.

He said it was appropriate for the court to intervene and renewed an order initially granted in July.