Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett, today joined protestors at the site in Sussex approved for exploratory drilling by shale oil and gas company, Cuadrilla.
Natalie commented:
"Here in Balcombe today the strength of local feeling against the drilling is obvious.
“The passion and the commitment is clear. And we were told that the police are setting up a liaison office, expecting this to be a long protest, so there is I think going to be plenty of opportunity for people to show their support, which would be warmly welcomed.
“I am told a local community survey showed 90% opposition in the village, and there is evidence for that in the people here today, and the toots of support from passing motorists.
“One of the most common phrases I have heard is 'this is my first -ever protest'.
“There are many mothers here with their children. I heard one say 'I just want a safe place to bring up my children'.
“This is very much a traditional Tory area - there is a pro-fox hunting placard high in a tree at the entrance to the village - but the commitment to block this drilling is clear. They are concerned about contamination of their water supply, concerned about air pollution, but they aren't nimbys. 'I don't want to inflict this on anyone' one resident said to me.
“A Harvard University study concluded that fracking would never be large scale in Europe in part for political reasons. Balcombe is strong evidence to back that”
Read more about the Green Party leader's stance on fracking here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/natalie-bennett/fracking-nightmare_b_3658736.html