Legal bid to end restrictions on protests at area’s oil drilling sites
Campaigners have launched a legal bid to end protest restrictions at oil drilling sites in Sussex and Surrey.
Last year clothes firm Canada Goose failed at the High Court to limit protests outside its London store by people opposed to the use of animal fur in its products.
Now campaigners in Sussex and Surrey are hoping to use the ruling to overturn an interim injunction which they argue is stopping lawful protests outside UKOG drilling sites at Broadford Bridge near Billingshurst and Horse Hill near Gatwick.
Back in 2018 when the injunction was granted UKOG argued that it did not seek in any way to remove the right to peaceful protest, but sought a judicial determination of whether actions employed by some activities were lawful or unlawful. Its chief executive went on to suggest ‘mob rule and anarchy’ had ‘no place in modern Britain’.
Michael Oswald, of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors who is representing five women from Surrey and Sussex who are opposing the injunction, said they are applying for UKOG’s claim against ‘persons unknown’ to be struck out and the injunction discharged.
He said: “If UKOG want to continue with this injunction against protests at Horse Hill and Broadford Bridge, they will have to identify all those people they can prove have or are likely to get involved in unlawful activity so they have an opportunity to defend themselves in court.
“We will insist that UKOG need to start again with a properly constituted set of proceedings and demonstrate to the court that this order is needed plus identify those to whom it applies.”
The legal action is being supported by the Weald
Action Group, an umbrella organisation for campaigners across the South East opposed to the expansion of onshore oil and gas exploration.
The next hearing will now take place before a High Court Judge in the summer, which will decide whether the injunction should be struck out or if UKOG’s altered injunction is agreed.
Ann Stewart, speaking on behalf of the five defendants, said: “The scope of a ‘persons unknown’ injunction is far too wide and is a deterrent to peaceful protest. The Canada Goose judgment has confirmed that these blanket injunctions are a violation of human rights and this approach cannot be applied to ‘persons unknown’ to stifle everyone’s freedom to protest.
“Now that UKOG have been directed by the court to identify all defendants it is clear that lawful protesters are being added for doing no more than turning up to express their opposition to the fossil fuel industry.”