ACTIVISTS and Dorset residents are due to gather on Bournemouth beach on Saturday to protest against the proposed Poole Bay oil rig.

Corallian Energy, the oil and gas licence operator for the area of seabed some 8km off the beach, and a similar distance from Studland, plans to start drilling an appraisal well in the ‘Colter Prospect’ this winter, subject to Government approval.

If oil of sufficient quality and quantity is discovered it would be extracted via Wytch Farm in Poole Harbour.

The static protest will take place from 1.30-3.30pm, next to Bournemouth Pier.

Save Our Shores Bournemouth organiser Sara Pascoe said: "The plans to drill new oil fields are inconsistent with our climate change legal commitments and are false profits, destroying our earth’s life system for corporate gain, when green alternatives exist that can be developed and expanded.

"This reckless denial of human contribution to global climate change also threatens our beaches, businesses and habitats. Patience has run out for the folly of climate change denial.

"This protest launches local collective work on community-based renewable energy projects.

"Whilst our government continues to subsidise the oil industry in the billions yet stopped green subsidies, and at least one local MP serves as a paid consultant to the oil industry, we are taking action."

SOS Bournemouth's sister group Global Justice Bournemouth held a protest in January 2018 to raise awareness and encourage input into the then-ongoing consultation by the Energy Secretary.

Local representatives of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties are expected to attend the protest on Saturday.

Among those who have expressed concern about the risks of contamination of marine habitats during the drilling are Dorset Wildlife Trust and TV presenters Chris Packham and Kate Humble.

"Climate change is not a joke, not some conspiracy to sell solar panels," said Ms Pascoe. "Humanity is facing its largest ever catastrophe, larger than WW1 or WW2. This is exactly the sort of world problem that is the very responsibility of governments.

"But most of them, including ours, are horrifically negligent in this regard."

"The UK government continues to subsidize fossil fuels in the billions, whilst they've stopped subsidies for green energy.

"Could you imagine if they had left it to community groups to organise against the Nazis?

"We will continue to speak truth to power, but we also demand that our power speak and act on truth."