AFTER more than a year, the camp set up by anti-fracking campaigners near Kirby Misperton is closing.

In a statement, the camp protestors said that with fracking equipment being moved from the Third Energy site at Habton Road, they are declaring that, for now, the job has been done.

Their statement (which can be found in full below) said: "In January 2017 we pledged to the local community that KMPC would remain and continue its campaign of direct action until Third Energy were no longer a threat to the area.

"The last two weeks have seen convoys of fracking equipment leaving the site and this week we celebrated as the rig was finally removed.

"It’s clear that Third Energy are not going to be fracking anytime soon, and so the time has come to begin packing up the Kirby Misperton Protection Camp."

The group have now pledged to undertake restoration work on the field site.

They also thanked their supporters and vowed to continue to fight the fracking industry.

Although the camp is being dismantled, protest action will continue at the gates to the fracking site itself; the so-called 'Forward Protection Camp'.

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Third Energy and anti-protest group responds

The Knapton-based energy company who are set to undertake the frack welcomed the Camp's decision but said that they still intend to go ahead with the operation.

A spokesperson for Third Energy said: "We are sure that the residents of Kirby Misperton who have had their daily lives disrupted by the activities of the protestors, many of whom are not local, will breathe a sigh of relief at the news they are leaving the area, as will our employees and suppliers who have been regularly intimidated and threatened.

"Third Energy has been drilling for and producing gas, and generating electricity, in North Yorkshire for over 20 years and nothing has changed. We will continue providing the gas and local employment the country so urgently needs.

"The UK has a strong regulatory framework in place, and it is understandably taking some time to make sure that our project near Kirby Misperton meets all of the requirements put in place by the government to protect the environment and communities in relation to onshore natural gas development.

"We are currently working with the government on the final step of the regulatory process which involves providing the financial information requested to facilitate the final consent for our Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation programme near Kirby Misperton.

"On completion of the approval process we will finalise our operational arrangements and move forwards with the Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation and production of the KM-8 well; delivering some much needed gas for power.

"We thank the local community for its patience and can confirm that Third Energy plans to be working in the Vale of Pickering for many years to come."

An anti-protest group called 'Reclaim The Peace' also welcomed the decision.

In a statement it said: "We are relieved that the hazards posed by the camp to its inhabitants and members of the public will soon cease.

"There has been no indication by Third Energy that their decision to remove equipment while they await final government approval has been influenced by protest activity, so the camp’s claim of having 'beaten' fracking seems a little premature.

"We look forward to the protesters honouring their promises to return the illegally occupied field to its original state."

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Police respond

North Yorkshire Police have been policing the fracking site itself, on the opposite side of the village to the Camp, for the past six months as part of so-called Operation Kingfisher.

Superintendent Alisdair Dey, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Throughout this operation we’ve been balancing the needs and wishes of everyone at Kirby Misperton.

"We will continue to work with people on all sides of the issue, ensuring those who remain and want to protest can do so safely, and minimising any disruption to the local community."

They added there have been 85 arrests (including seven in January and three in February) as part of the police operation at Kirby Misperton since September 2017, for a range of suspected offences.

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Full text: statement from Kirby Misperton Protection Camp

In January 2017 we pledged to the local community that KMPC would remain and continue its campaign of direct action until Third Energy were no longer a threat to the area. The last two weeks have seen convoys of fracking equipment leaving the site and this week we celebrated as the rig was finally removed. It’s clear that Third Energy are not going to be fracking anytime soon, and so the time has come to begin packing up the Kirby Misperton Protection Camp.

Ryedale’s victory is down to the many layers of the campaign working tirelessly together and all pulling in the same direction. We have achieved what many people said was an impossible task. The odds were stacked against us at KM8 - the pad was built, the well was drilled and all the necessary infrastructure was in place. If we can beat them at those odds, other communities can feel empowered to do the same.

It has been an honour and a privilege to meet and know so many campaigners, and we offer our sincere gratitude to everyone who has been part of or supported KMPC.

It’s been wet, it’s been cold and it’s been muddy, and we would like to thank all those who offered us warmth and rest in their homes. We thank everyone who gathered with us in the cold of last winter to build the camp, and those who came week after week, generously delivering food, water and wood, and of course the caring group who delivered lovingly made, hot meals during the busy times of action.

We thank those who have donated money, and our friends in larger organisations for their generous support.

We remain astounded at the brilliance of the Kirby Misperton Monitoring Group, who scrupulously collected vital data and compiled and reported regulation breaches. The equally awesome investigators, keyboard warriors and Freedom of Information wizards continue to inspire us with their thousands of hours of unseen work.

A huge thanks to the team at the Cracking Fracking Cafe, who have kept the tea brewing throughout the winter, we could not have done it without you.

Thank you to the children who brought sweetness and innocence to the gates: we pledge to continue our devoted efforts to deliver to you a frack free future.

We thank our arrestee support and court support teams, who have been phenomenal, meeting us outside the Fulford Hotel with big smiles and warm hugs, and our legal teams as they prepare for the court cases ahead.

Thank you to the musicians! The artists, the photographers, the singers, the dancers, the poets, the creators and the dreamers, for bringing beauty and laughter to this place.

We offer our utmost respect to our neighbours in Kirby Misperton, and thank everyone who has offered encouragement and support so selflessly, even as the burden of this national struggle has fallen at their door.

Our love and thanks to the therapists, healers and counsellors who have held us and helped us to heal. We thank the spiritual leaders whose guidance and wise words have lit even the darkest of moments in the campaign; they echo on in our ears as we move forward.

We also remain committed to the support of Frack Free Ryedale and all other groups nationally and internationally who continue to oppose this filthy industry.

We thank our comrades in the Fire Brigades Union and are grateful for their brave displays of support. We also thank the other 20 + unions who marched on the gates with us.

We are humbled by the strength of the local councillors who have taken a principled stance in support of the camp. We thank all of the MPs and political party members who have visited the gates, inspiring us with their speeches and their plans to bring about a UK wide ban on fracking.

We are grateful to the media who have taken an interest in our story and reported on the real issues faced by this community.

Finally, our ongoing solidarity goes to our friends at the Forward Protection Camp who continue to keep a permanent watch on the gates, with thanks and admiration for their immense contribution to the protection of Kirby Misperton.

We now begin the process of returning the field to its former state and will be arranging community work days over the coming weeks, during which we look forward to celebrating with everyone who has been involved. Please look out for these dates to be announced and for the details of our final closing ceremony.

We end this with a warning to any fracking company planning to exploit this land for your own profit and personal gain: Expect us.