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| Balcombe anti-fracking eviction talks held by council | Balcombe anti-fracking eviction talks held by council |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Council bosses have met to discuss how to remove anti-fracking protesters from a roadside verge in Balcombe, West Sussex. | |
| It comes after the High Court granted a possession order to West Sussex County Council (WSCC) for the B2036 site. | It comes after the High Court granted a possession order to West Sussex County Council (WSCC) for the B2036 site. |
| Campaigners set up camp during the summer to oppose test drilling for oil, amid fears it would lead to fracking. | Campaigners set up camp during the summer to oppose test drilling for oil, amid fears it would lead to fracking. |
| At the height of the protest, the site attracted more than 1,000 people but two are still there. | At the height of the protest, the site attracted more than 1,000 people but two are still there. |
| Sussex Police said seven protesters were at the site on Monday in one caravan, one structure and one tent. | Sussex Police said seven protesters were at the site on Monday in one caravan, one structure and one tent. |
| BBC correspondent Mark Norman said two were still there, earlier. | BBC correspondent Mark Norman said two were still there, earlier. |
| 'Dangers increasing' | 'Dangers increasing' |
| Stephen Jackson, who has been camping in a tent at the site since 29 July, said he was determined to stay. | Stephen Jackson, who has been camping in a tent at the site since 29 July, said he was determined to stay. |
| "I'm here for the interests of my family and everyone's health, because of fracking," he said. | "I'm here for the interests of my family and everyone's health, because of fracking," he said. |
| "I'm here for the duration. I have told the parish council. We are not moving yet." | "I'm here for the duration. I have told the parish council. We are not moving yet." |
| He said he and another protester were planning to appeal against the court ruling. | He said he and another protester were planning to appeal against the court ruling. |
| He said the council had put forward a separate protest area on the roadside that had barriers, but no camping was allowed and the campaigners could only use gazebos for shelter. | He said the council had put forward a separate protest area on the roadside that had barriers, but no camping was allowed and the campaigners could only use gazebos for shelter. |
| But he added he would stay there "forever" if he could, even through the winter. | But he added he would stay there "forever" if he could, even through the winter. |
| "We are being looked after by the locals and passing motorists who are dropping food off and supplies," he said. | "We are being looked after by the locals and passing motorists who are dropping food off and supplies," he said. |
| After the possession order was granted on Monday, WSCC promised "an early decision" on how to enforce the order. | After the possession order was granted on Monday, WSCC promised "an early decision" on how to enforce the order. |
| It said action was only being taken in the interests of the safety of road users and the demonstrators. | It said action was only being taken in the interests of the safety of road users and the demonstrators. |
| The council said the B2036 was an unlit road with a 60mph limit. | The council said the B2036 was an unlit road with a 60mph limit. |
| The local authority said it had provided a designated area where people could gather if they wanted to continue their protest, but camping would not be permitted. | The local authority said it had provided a designated area where people could gather if they wanted to continue their protest, but camping would not be permitted. |
| 'Exploration continues' | 'Exploration continues' |
| In said: "This is designed to strike a careful balance between maintaining road safety and people's right to demonstrate peacefully." | In said: "This is designed to strike a careful balance between maintaining road safety and people's right to demonstrate peacefully." |
| During the summer, Cuadrilla drilled a 3,000ft (900m) vertical well and a 2,500ft (750m) horizontal bore in its search for oil, but said any fracking for shale gas in the area would need fresh permission. | During the summer, Cuadrilla drilled a 3,000ft (900m) vertical well and a 2,500ft (750m) horizontal bore in its search for oil, but said any fracking for shale gas in the area would need fresh permission. |
| The company dismantled its equipment in September but submitted a request to WSCC for permission to test the flow rate of extraction at the well. | The company dismantled its equipment in September but submitted a request to WSCC for permission to test the flow rate of extraction at the well. |
| This month, the firm signed a new 30-year lease on the land to allow it to continue exploration work. | This month, the firm signed a new 30-year lease on the land to allow it to continue exploration work. |