ECO activists staged a march to mark one year since the oil spill in Poole Harbour.
Extinction Rebellion (XR) groups from Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Wimborne and Purbeck were joined by East Dorset Friends of the Earth, Bournemouth and Poole Greenpeace, Cycling Rebellion and other environmentalists from across the south west.
The campaigners marched from Corfe Castle to Perenco’s Wytch Farm oil field works on Saturday, March 23.
Daniel Glennon, 52, from XR BCP, said: “We blocked the entrance to Perenco’s oil field works and offices for an hour - this was pre-liaised with Dorset Police and advised to Perenco.”
While blocking the entrance to this facility, there were speeches and music, with protesters were encouraged to bring food to share and have a picnic.
Peter Ohm, 77, from XR Wimborne described the event as a “peaceful, family-friendly protest and rally”.
Extinction Rebellion said the purpose behind the protest was to maintain the pressure it has placed on Prerenco since the oil spill, calling on it to stop extraction now, and to “shine a light” on the firm’s operations in Poole Harbour.
Approximately 85 per cent ‘production fluid’ and 15 per cent crude oil was spilled from 200 barrels in the harbour from oil firm Perenco’s Wytch Farm in Ower Bay on March 26, 2023.
According to a report published earlier this week, the spill believed to have cost businesses £570k.
The report, published on March 19, and written by the consultant Hatch, said in the overall Dorset economy the loss is “considered minimal”.
Greg Lambe, from XR Bournemouth, said it should not be forgotten how important Poole Harbour is in terms of wildlife.
He added: “The risk of another, possibly much larger oil spill is far too high, especially as this oil field is in its ‘end of life’ stage, where investment in old infrastructure will likely be lacking, and that, as such, extraction should stop now.”
Ralph Doe, from XR BCP, said: “We are determined to keep the risk of another oil spill in Poole Harbour and Perenco’s operations abroad, at the top of the local and international environmental agendas, and we will be taking further action in the coming months.”
Saturday's event was the sixth protest organised by XR BCP in relation to the Poole Harbour oil spill.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article