Today (28 August 2014), at a hearing at Manchester High Court, HHJ Hodge QC has upheld a claim submitted by local farmers and Cuadrilla for possession against trespassers who have been illegally occupying farmland at Preston New Road, near Little Plumpton since 7 August. In addition the Court has also imposed an interim injunction so that no future trespass can take place on farmland at and surrounding Cuadrilla’s proposed shale gas exploration sites. This injunction will be assessed again at a hearing in early October as the defence was granted time to further prepare on this aspect of the claim.

Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla said:

“We welcome the Judge’s verdict to uphold the claim against illegal trespass on local farmland and we were pleased to support the landowners in these legal proceedings. We hope the court’s ruling will help deter this kind of unlawful behaviour in the future which has already had a detrimental impact on a local farmer’s business.”