UK Oil & Gas plc has had its injunction upheld by the High Court against protesters at its Horse Hill oil site near Gatwick Airport in Surrey.
The company said that the judge, Mrs Justice Falk DBE found yesterday (9 February) that there was “a sufficiently real and imminent risk to justify the interim injunction order and its revised scope, which prohibits trespass to the site’s land, obstruction of the main entrance and lorry surfing.”
UKOG added that the court ruled the injunction was “a reasonable and proportionate restriction” on protesters’ activities.
The order allows slow walking or standing outside the site unless such actions physically obstructed people entering or leaving the site.
The injunction includes six named protesters associated with environmental protest group Extinction Rebellion (XR).
Two named XR protestors in the site on 10 October 2020, also offered to abide by the terms of the injunction in return for UKOG not to pursue committal for a breach of the injunction.
The injunction remains in force until a final two-day trial, to be scheduled between June and October 2021.
Company chief executive Stephen Sanderson said he hoped protesters would abide by the court’s ruling.
“UKOG welcomes Mrs Justice Falk’s thorough review and for her clear finding that the making of the revised injunction order was fully justified.
“UKOG has never sought to obstruct any peaceful protest, or curb the right to freedom of expression, solely to restrain unlawful activities that impede its staff’s right to go about their lawful business.
“This ruling now makes it clear that acts of trespass, obstruction of the site’s entrance and vehicle surfing do not constitute lawful protest under the right to freedom of expression.”
The licence is operated by UKOG plc’s subsidiary, Horse Hill Developments Ltd (UKOG 77.9%), which holds a 65% direct interest in the field and surrounding highly prospective licences.
UKOG also owns the remaining 35% direct interest in the Horse Hill licences through its wholly owned subsidiary UKOG (137/246) Ltd.