Downing Street fracking demo lasted 16 days

A hunger strike being staged by outside Number 10 by an anti-fracking campaigner has been called off after more than two weeks.
Gayzer Frackman in London for his anti-fracking hunger strike at Downing StreetGayzer Frackman in London for his anti-fracking hunger strike at Downing Street
Gayzer Frackman in London for his anti-fracking hunger strike at Downing Street

Gayzer Frackman planned his latest demonstration on Downing Street to highlight the dangers of the shale gas industry.

The Lytham resident took a letter for the Prime Minister to his Downing Street home calling for a ban on fracking.

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In a video posted on his Facebook page , he said: “Today, the 16th day of the hunger strike, will be the last day.

“I would have carried this on. I could have gone quite a bit further.”

He said he lost more than two stones during the protest, which saw him sat opposite Downing Street each day with protest banners.

In his video he said work commitments were behind the decision to end the strike.

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As the hunger strike entered its third week, he delivered a letter, marked for the Prime Minister’s attention, which he claimed included evidence of the ‘dangers’ of drilling for shale gas, using a process known as hydraulic fracturing – or fracking.

The controversial practice has split residents, with several high-profile protests organised to oppose plans to frack on the Fylde coast.

However, supporters, including the North West Ennergy Task Force, a group of businesses in the region, say the industry will create thousands of jobs and boost local wages.

Mr Frackman added: “David Cameron is saying he wants to make Blackpool the shale capital of Europe.

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“Once informed of the overwhelming evidence of how toxic this industry will be, and the clear and present danger we face, we demand that, at the very least, the Prime Minister must bring in a moratorium or be even braver and ban it like many other sensible countries have done.”

Plans to frack at sites on the Fylde coast are set to be decided by the planning minister next year.