BISHOP ON THE FRONTLINE OF FRACKING
My wife Jackie and I live in the village of Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, a village of 300 souls. We are a frontline in the campaign to stop the development of a fracking industry across much of our county.
We are entering the seventh week of unconventional gas company Third Energy’s operation and in protest. The site entrance is about half a mile from our house. Most of the fracking convoys come through Main Street and past our front door. The village feels under siege, in particular, because of the nature of the policing. ‘Operation Kingfisher’ (!) comes under the domestic extremism strategy. We average 70 police officers and over 100 police vehicle movements per weekday. The scale and nature of the policing is intimidatory.
The majority of protestors are from Ryedale and nearby parts of North Yorkshire - many being retired professionals who can be free in the daytime, but there is also support from anti fracking groups from other places - and we have a protection camp, which has been the source of some non-violent direct action - lock ons, observation towers Etc.
Protesters outside the Third Energy site at Kirby Misperton
The situation in the village is tense, hardly anyone wants fracking, some actively protest, most just keep their head down. Some are becoming vocal against protestors, blaming them for the disruption. However most of the road closures are police actions not as a result of protest.
The nine churches in these benefices had been in interregnum for 20 months. We have taken many services and Jackie all the occasional offices, but we are also visibly and vocally anti fracking - trying to balance the immediate wellbeing of our village with challenging the threat to its long term well being.
There are ongoing opportunities to offer spiritual support. We have led a 12 hour prayer vigil in the parish church which 45 different people attended through the day. There have been two multi spiritual tradition candle lit vigils at the gate, and local farmers against fracking asked us to lead a harvest festival at the site gate. A local choir master has led hymn singing as protest – (a new one to me). The aim is to do something that offers prayer and space to reflect about every second week.
Third Energy are nearly ready for the first test frack (of 5), although the government minister has not yet signed it off.
According to the Government’s own tracker half the population does not know about fracking. Nor did we till it was proposed on our doorstep. The 50% who do know about it divide 37% against and 13% in favour. Only one party within parliament supports it. Locally 14 parish councils, four town councils and our district council all opposed the planning application, but it was still granted. There is an awful feeling of having this imposed upon us by the police on behalf of the state.
We believe the development of an industrial scale fracking industry is incompatible with our country’s climate change commitments, and is a threat to our health and to the regional economy, which is dependent on tourism and agriculture.
Rt Rev Graham Cray, left, pictured with the Rev Jackie Cray
We had about 250 at a Trades Union solidarity march and rally last Saturday, which was encouraging. There has also been well attended public meeting addressed by Jonathan Porritt and another by Jessica Ernst a Canadian campaigner.
Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.
Rt. Revd Graham Cray - Honorary Assistant Bishop Diocese ofYork