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Anti-fracking protesters in Swansea cause chaos in city Anti-fracking protesters cause disruption in UK cities
(about 2 hours later)
Anti-fracking protesters have brought major disruption to Swansea after blockading a new university building. Anti-fracking campaigners apparently super-glued themselves to the doors of a government building as part of orchestrated protests around the UK.
Eight people from the group Reclaim the Power shut down construction of the site on Fabian Way - the main route into the city from the M4. Reclaim the Power set up camp in the doorway to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in London.
The protest began at 06:00 BST on Monday and caused chaos for commuters. Other members brought major traffic disruption to Swansea after blockading a new university building.
Swansea University said it was co-operating with South Wales Police and construction staff to keep disruption to a minimum. Police have been in attendance at both sites.
The force said the road, which leads off the M4 and into the city, was heavily congested during rush hour but had eased. The campaigners from Reclaim the Power's six-day camp at Blackpool said they were reacting to the release of a UK government report last week.
At one point traffic was tailing back to the M4 at junction 42. They claimed 63 sections on the potential impacts of shale gas exploration on rural communities had been deleted.
They said the missing sections include analysis around falling house prices and failing rural services.
They say the chapter examining the effect of drilling on house prices had three sections cut.
At 08:00 BST on Monday in London three activists super-glued themselves to the doors, while another activist climbed the building and put up a banner which read: "What's to hide Defra? - Don't frack with our future."
'Secrets of fracking'
One of the campaigners apparently super-glued to Defra's doors was Lindsay Alderton, from London.
She said it was "shameful" the government was "keeping secret the impacts of shale gas extraction" and the public "has a right to know".
"This morning we're here at Defra to remind them that they work for the public that pays them their wages, and that the public demands to know the facts about fracking - censoring is not an acceptable option," added Ms Alderton.
Some other activists wore black tape across their mouths.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers were called at 07:30 BST and there were about 15 protesters at the scene - some had climbed scaffolding.
'Public money funnelled'
Meanwhile in Swansea, eight protesters shut down construction of a new Swansea University building on Fabian Way - the main route into the city from the M4.
The protest began at 06:00 BST and caused chaos for commuters.
The activists said they dressed as "mad scientists" to protest against fracking research. They camped outside the site and dropped a "No Fracking" banner from the top of the building while another protester was locked on to a tripod.The activists said they dressed as "mad scientists" to protest against fracking research. They camped outside the site and dropped a "No Fracking" banner from the top of the building while another protester was locked on to a tripod.
New institute
They say they are "angered" by "tens of millions of public money being funnelled into research on fracking via Swansea University's new Energy Safety Research Institute".They say they are "angered" by "tens of millions of public money being funnelled into research on fracking via Swansea University's new Energy Safety Research Institute".
A spokeswoman for Swansea University confirmed the UK and Welsh governments had both funded research at the institute into "all types of energy, and one of those could be fracking".A spokeswoman for Swansea University confirmed the UK and Welsh governments had both funded research at the institute into "all types of energy, and one of those could be fracking".
She also confirmed previous landowners BP had donated the site to the university, which the protesters have highlighted.She also confirmed previous landowners BP had donated the site to the university, which the protesters have highlighted.
The spokeswoman added: "The university hopes that any disruption caused by this demonstration is kept to a minimum by the appropriate authorities.
"We will be cooperating with the police and our contractors to resolve the situation as speedily as possible."
'Peaceful protest''Peaceful protest'
South Wales Police confirmed eight protesters were at the site. South Wales Police said it acknowledged the campaigners' right "to peaceful protest" and was trying to minimise disruption to the community.
"There has been heavy congestion in the area due to vehicles being unable to access the construction site and tailing back onto the main carriageway," said a spokesman. A UK government spokesman said: "There is no evidence that house prices have been affected in over half a century of oil and gas exploration in the UK or evidence that this would be the case with shale.
"South Wales Police acknowledges the right to peaceful protest and will work with protestors to facilitate any lawful protest while minimising disruption to the community and ensuring public safety." "This government believes that shale has a positive part to play in our future energy mix, providing energy security, driving growth and creating jobs."
Meanwhile a protest is also being staged at the offices of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in London.