Our Forth

  • News
  • About
    • Links
  • Petition
  • Hands Over Our Forth
  • Underground Coal Gasification
  • What Can You Do?
  • Contact

Hands Over Our Forth

Update

Incredible turn out at Hands Over Our Forth! 1800 plus. A clear message to government, industry and the SNP ahead of their conference that Unconventional Gas is not wanted in Scotland! No Drilling! No Fracking! No UCG in Scotland!

When the news first broke last year that the unconventional gas industry had been awarded licenses that would lead to over 3,687 hectares (1) of the Firth of Forth being subjected to the experimental process of underground coal gasification. You’d have been forgiven for believing that UCG in the Forth was a done deal. For even though the environmental group WWF Scotland (2), amongst others, were quick to point out the obvious dangers to the environment from carrying out such a large scale operation. UCG was still omitted from the temporary moratorium on fracking in Scotland last year and license applications continued to be granted. The most recent of which covers an area near to East Wemyss, which was secured by Cluff Industries in April of this year (3) and which opens up a further 77kms to UCG.

But the thriving communities around the Firth of Forth…communities which span from Rosyth to Crieff in the North, to Boness through to North Berwick in the South…took action. They educated and informed themselves on the process of UCG. They asked questions, undertook thorough research into the potential effects of the process, while considering these effects on the geology of the area around the Forth in particular. They considered the extensive evidence of the effect of these industries on other communities to date. And their understanding in this respect has led them to answer the question of the future of UCG in the Forth for themselves…

The answer is No.

This decision has undoubtedly contributed to the Scottish government’s recent announcement that UCG is now officially included in the government’s temporary moratorium – and that no UK exploration company has been granted social license or community consent for drilling anywhere else in the UK to date.

These developments are significant, perhaps most importantly because there is now an acknowledgement on the part of the government that UCG like Fracking is unconventional, experimental and unprecedented. In other words industry representatives cannot reduce, hide or know for a ‘fact’ the implications of UCG for the communities that stand to be most affected by the process…nor reduce the voices and concerns of these communities by attempting to caricature or belittle their concerns.

But, despite this welcome change to the status of the moratorium. The situation in the Firth of Forth is more critical now than it ever has been. For while a moratorium is in place it has the potential to mask the fact that the industry will continue to pursue this process to the bitter end. They will use this time as a plan of works. Despite the mounting evidence of the effect of this process on communities such as Queensland, Australia (4) and Hoe Creek, Wyoming (5), Communities who now live with the reality of air pollution, water contamination, toxic waste and the health effects that came with UCG. An industry that no one wants.

Last Sunday 2000 people spanned the length of the Forth road bridge…and linked hands across the Firth of Forth to show their ongoing protection of the river that flowed beneath them. They came together from the banks of the Forth and beyond to unite, to show the government, Cluff and Five Quarters Energy that they will not permit the destruction of such an integral part of their environment. And there on a bridge over 5000 feet in the air, stood all 2000 of them…professionals, environmentalists, scientists, artists, office workers, shop assistants, musicians, mothers and fathers. But they were just the surface of a movement, with an undercurrent of thousands more, who’ve met, thought and understood the process of UCG…and who are ready to turn the tide on unconventional gas extraction below our waters and our land once and for all…

1. http://www.cluffnaturalresources.com/projects.aspx

2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-29987033

3.http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/12303977.html

4. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-10/linc-energy-secret-report-reveals-toxic-chemical-risk/6681740

5. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/04/140408-new-energy-frontier-underground-coal-gasification/

Hand-Over-Our-Forth

Hand-Over-Our-Forth-2
Hand-Over-Our-Forth-3_350

Hand-Over-Our-Forth-5_350
Hand-Over-Our-Forth-4_350

Hand Over Our Forth 4

Read more:
Thousands back Hands Over Our Forth


 

HANDS OVER OUR FORTH

Community groups from across the central belt of Scotland and beyond will be joining hands  on October 11th at 2pm on the Forth Road Bridge to demand that the Scottish Government protect the Forth of Forth from Underground Coal Gasification.

This protest demands that Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) must be included in the temporary “fracking” ban (Unconventional Gas Extraction). From then on,  demanding an all-out ban on all Unconventional Gas Extraction in Scotland.

People from all over Scotland and the UK are to join hands to form a human chain while standing on the Forth Road Bridge, from North Queensferry side in Fife to South Queensferry side.

This won’t happen without a big people powered push! 2000 people on the Forth Road Bridge will be a statement they cannot ignore. Please be part of it!

hoofmEME

 

 

ITINERARY

13.00 – 13.30

The time for this event is listed as to begin @ 2pm, however to emphasise- the optimum time to reach the bridge would be 1.30pm to give enough time to make your way into position to line up on the bridge.

Photo Opportunity with Banners either side of Bridge. North side Queensferry Hotel Garden / South side viewing point between Road and Rail Bridges, Ferrymuir Gait car park. 

For anyone/ groups wanting to take photos of this momentous occasion. Allow yourselves time to arrive, take your pics and get the banners either back into cars/ coaches/ or into the rooms at the hotel. Then head onto the bridge where the stewards will guide you.

13.30 – 14.00

Participants take their positions on the Bridge. Please arrive in plenty time for taking your position at 130pm

The WEST side of the bridge will be closed off for this event so we have sole use of this side- this is the side easiest for disabled access as no steps and also ease of getting into the hotel, however it must be noted that there is a slope to gain to access the hotel.

14.00 – 14.30

A piper from either side begins walk to middle. People join hands. Arriving at the middle pipers play a duet together.

15.00 – 17.00

Guest speakers: Australian Toxicologist Dr.Mariann Lloyd Smith & John Ashton – Venue: The Queensferry Hotel (due to logistics and weather this has had to be organised indoors as a ticketed event Book Your Ticket Here)

Notes:

  • This is a family friendly event but all children must be accompanied by an adult
  • No bikes, NO BANNERS on the bridge for safety reasons.
  • Please bring warm clothing and comfortable foot wear.
  • Time to walk across Bridge approx 25mins.
  • We encourage people to share photos on social media and on the HOOF Event Gallery.
  • Please bring cash to donate to the expenses of the event into the buckets provided.

 

Be The Media!!! 

To spread the news about the demo we need pictures Before and During the event. A flow of news from the day is essential so send pictures of banner making tonight, packed lunches and tea in the morning, arriving at Queensferry, the crowds building, walking the bridge, the pipers and everything in-between.

If you can’t make it then join The Demo by Sending Messages & Pictures Of Solidarity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1642166826064509/
Twitter: ‪#‎HOOF‬ ‪#‎NoUCG‬ ‪#‎NOTONEWELL‬#OURFORTH
Email: info@frack-off.org + hoof4fof@hotmail.com

 

Information

TRANSPORT

 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Edinburgh- Stagecoach service 55, Gate C and Citylink service M91, Gate F run to Forth Road Bridge. Stagecoach run every hour 11.25, 12.25 etc journey 25 mins- £6.30 return. Citylink every 2 hours- 11am, 1pm etc.

Glasgow Buchanan Station – Dunfermline X27 £16.50 Connecting service- Dunfermline – Forth Bridge stance 7 service 55 £6.30.

Falkirk – Kirkliston First bus X38 £9.40 to Station Road- connecting Stagecoach service 51 – Forth Bridge £3.60

Kirkcaldy Bus Station – service X27 – Halbeath park ride £7.60 Stance 5 service 747 – Forth Bridge £6.30.
There is the train station at Dalmeny, allow for a 1 mile walk from the Forth Bridge.

CYCLE CONVOYS

Below is a Convoy organised from Edinburgh. If you are cycling from anywhere else and want us to publicise your convoy, let us know!

 

East Edinburgh/Ferry Road to #HOOF Cycle via Sustrans Route 1.
 
SO SUGGESTED PLAN TO ARRIVE 12.45 at the Forth Road Bridge – links to route maps below
1. Meet@ 5-Ways 10.45 (leave by 11am)//then Cycle approx 20mins//
(5-Ways is near the East end of the Ferry Road cycle path where it meets the Trinity and Goldenacre paths)
2. Meet@ Craigleith/Roseburn Path 11.15am (Leave by 11.30)//then follow Sustrans route 1 approx 1hr15//
(see the map for precise location, adjacent to Groathill Ave and Craigleith Retail Pk, where the Telford Path (Ferry Road Path), meets the Roseburn Path.
3. Arrive FRB, Ferrymuir Gait Car Park approx 12.45
QUERIES EMAIL Sara on sara.marsden@ymail.com

CONTACT ON THE DAY: Please email if you would like my phone number

 
ROUTE MAPS

1. 5-Ways to Craigleith – 2.25 miles (20mins)

CycleStreets » Short un-named link to Roseburn Path
image

CycleStreets » Short un-named link to Roseburn Path

Journey no. #46,374,561 Routes for Short un-named link to Roseburn PathChange Return Choose a route: Fastest route Balanced route Quietest route Fastest route op…
View on www.cyclestreets.net
Preview by Yahoo
2. Craigleith to FRB – 7.5miles (1hour)
 
CycleStreets » Roseburn Path to Alongside Slip road
image

CycleStreets » Roseburn Path to Alongside Slip road

Time (mm:ss) Distance (miles) View Turn Streets   Surface Local map (approx. every 0.5 miles) 0:05 0 Street View Start Roseburn Path Cycle path 7:33 1.1 Street View…
View on www.cyclestreets.net
Preview by Yahoo

PARKING AND LIFT SHARE 

 SOUTH SIDE 
Ferrymuir Gait car park,
Forth Road Bridge Administration Office.
.Directions and Map here or here
EH30 9SF
130 car spaces and 8 coach spaces approx.
This car park is not that suitable for disabled or wheelchair access on too the bridge.
NORTH SIDE
Queensferry Hotel has parking  for those people going to see speakers. (Book Your Ticket Here)
Directions and Map Here
KY11 1HP
Disabled access is the easiest to the bridge from here.
Ferrytoll park and ride is a 20/30 min walk away.
KY11 1LN
This is an over spill car park if other two below are full unless your getting a bus too Ferry Toll Car Park and Bus Interchange stop . Website
For anyone wanting to use the large park and ride at Ferrytoll, a short distance from the north end of bridge, there will be a coach waiting to pick up people parking there. From 13.10pm.
PLEASE lift share where possible and try to avoid bringing your car if you can. If you are coming on your own and have space in your car then either persuade some friends to come with you , or head to Facebook and organise a lift share.
Here is an in car  video that a supporter has made showing how to drive to Ferrymuir Gair Car Park and Queensferry Hotel

Coaches Organised By Community Groups.

East Kilbride( Atholl House -/ Churchill Avenue)- 11.10 am – Glasgow George Sq(City Chambers) 11.30- Cumbernauld (Town centre- North Stance)11.50 – please get in touch with number of seats required email hoof4fof@hotmail.com -£6 return trip

Leven(Shorehead) – 12 noon- Kirkcaldy( Chapel Home Farm) 12.20pm – Dunfermline( Park and Ride)- please get in touch with number of seats required email hoof4fof@hotmail.com – £6 return trip
Falkirk Grahamston( Meeks road car park)- 12.15pm – please get in touch with number of seats required email hoof4fof@hotmail.com – £6 return trip
Portobello
11.45am Portobello Town Hall – leaving at 12midday/ then 12.15pm Foot of the Walk end of Great Junction Street in Leith / 12.35pm at the Doocot pub, 731 Ferry Road.
Please could you email ourforthportobello@gmail.com with the subject line “bus to HOOF”

Dalkeith( High Street- WH Smith) 12 noon- Musselburgh High Street( Police Station) 12.15pm- please get in touch with number of seats required email hoof4fof@hotmail.com -£6 return trip

FROM NORTH EAST ENGLAND

7am Saltburn Station square
7.35 Stockton, Swallow Hotel lay-by
8.10 Darlington Dolphin centre coach lay-by
Then on to Forth bridge. Returning at 5pm
Email info@frackfreecleveland.co.uk with your name, contact no and pick up point. Places are £5 each, if you will struggle to pay this but would still like to come please let me know.

 

 

More information

available from hoof4fof@hotmail.com

or if you are on Facebook then join the event https://www.facebook.com/events/1642166826064509/ More information, transport advice, lift sharing available on this event page. (Please only click “going” on this FB event if you are sure you’re attending. It is vital that numbers on there match that of the number of people (or near enough) who actually turn up on the day. )

 

Please help spread the Word!

Tell all your friends! Bring them with you !

 

share this video this video

or this flier Hands over forth A5

 

Paper versions are available for distribution,

Available for home printing from this link  or contact ourforthportobello@googlemail.com to pick some up.

 

DONATE

If you can’t come then please consider donating. This campaign is run by normal people like you and me, who are organising in their lunch hours and after the kids are in bed and using their own cash. They need your help! If you know any local group/organisation/club who’d be interested in being involved, please share this information/FB event with them.If you would like to help with any aspect of organising this event then please get in touch.

Click here to donate or bring money on the day the throw into the buckets!

 

 

 

Join Our Mailing List

Find Us On Facebook

Find Us On Twitter

Follow @ourforthporty

Latest Tweets

Follow @ourforthporty

Our Forth Portobello
@ourforthporty

  • RT @UK_Nanas: Nanas been so busy & now trying to find a knitting pattern for democracy - this in lovely #Liverpool :) Momentum TV https://t…
    about 3 years ago
  • RT @bailey6117: Our @UK_Nanas are fighting #fracking with all their might. Brollies at the ready. #WeSaidNo #DontFrackLancs https://t.co/BX…
    about 3 years ago

© Copyright 2015 Our Forth · Privacy · All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more