Category Archives: Upton

Upton Day 648 (Tues 12th Jan) Camp Eviction

Local People Massing On Road Outside As IGas Try To Evict Camp In Upton, Cheshire (Click To Enlarge)

See below for more photos

Eviction attempt underway since this morning! Get down to the camp if you can. Both ends of Duttons Lane have been closed by the police (potential access across fields). Large numbers of police and baliffs, but people are still occupying the site and need support.

The camp is using a variety of direct action tactics to resist the eviction, including tree houses, scaffold towers, lock-ons and tunnels. An eviction requiring a wide variety of specialist equipment and personnel, including climbing and tunneling teams will be much more expensive. By dragging out the eviction for as long as possible, IGas’s costs are costs are increased, which is all investors care about.

Up to 11 people have been arrested so far (mainly for obstruction), but other are still holding out and the eviction is obviously taking much longer than hoped for. One person has single-handedly stopped a digger from being brought onto the site by jumping on top of it. Flood lights are being brought in, so looks like they are expecting eviction to continue into night. One person being cut off scaffold platform as night it falling.

For almost 2 years the Camp has been occupying a site where fracking company IGas Energy has planning permission to drilling a coalbed methane (CBM) well. It’s presence has defended the community from becoming a regional foothold for the industry.

Latest News: Twitter Feed
Arrest Support: Manchester GBC
Camp Info: Upton Community Protection Camp
Site Info: Duttons Lane Site
Local Groups: Frack Free Dee, Frack Free Upton

Media coverage:

Upton Day 591 (Mon 16th Nov)

Camp On Dart Energy’s Planned Fracking Site In Upton, Cheshire (Click To Enlarge)

Large gathering to show support for the Upton camp which is standing in the way of IGas’s attempts to frack Cheshire

Upton Day 581 (Fri 6th Nov)

Local People Demonstrate There Opposition To IGas’s Plans Outside The Court In Manchester (Click To Enlarge)

IGas in court in Manchester trying to get a possession order so they can try to evict the camp in Upton. Large demonstration outside the court. IGas granted possession order which comes into effect on 4th Dec.

Upton Day 567 (Fri 23rd Oct)

Camp On Dart Energy’s Planned Fracking Site In Upton, Cheshire (Click To Enlarge)

IGas have sent in the bailiffs and police to nail up a notice that they have acquired a 30 year lease to the site. Likely prelude to starting eviction proceedings. See Fracking Company IGas Trys To Intimidate Community In Upton for more details.

Upton Day 553 (Mon 9th Oct)

Local Residents Blockade Vehicles Belonging To IGas’s Seismic Testing Contractor Near Upton Camp (Click To Enlarge)

Local people have blockaded vehicles belonging to seismic testing company who laying explosive charges to commence seismic testing in the area.

Upton Day 480 (Tues 28th Jul)

Upton Community Demonstrates Its Opposition To Fracking (Click To Enlarge)

Upton residents demonstrate their opposition to fracking outside a parish council meeting. Frack Free Upton have surveyed 2,121 households and 86% of the 2,284 residents consulted are against any form of exploration and development.

Upton Day 427 (Fri 5th Jun)

Camp On Dart Energy’s Planned Fracking Site In Upton, Cheshire (Click To Enlarge)

Camp at Upton (near Chester) which is occupying land where IGas want to site a frack pad.

Upton Day 47 (Weds 21st May)

Camp On Dart Energy’s Planned Fracking Site In Upton, Cheshire (Click To Enlarge)

Another great day on camp setup by the local community on the site where Dart want to construct a pad. See below for more photos.