On site inspection at Bellanaboy

mayo | environment | news report Friday March 30, 2007 19:20 by EC - Shell to Sea/ Rossport Solidarity Camp

Eleven Shell to Sea activists gained access to Shell's construction site at Bellanaboy Bridge earlier today to have a look around and to ask some questions.

Campaigners walk onto the site at Bellanaboy Bridge.

Eleven Shell to Sea activists entered Shell's construction site at Bellanaboy Bridge this afternoon to seek answers about contaminated water run off from the site. Concerns about the water, (particularly aluminium levels) have been ongoing, but were exacerbated by a diesel spill last Saturday which is still visible in water running off the site this morning. The group entered the site around 3pm this afternoon with the intention of speaking with a Mr Tom Doyle, supposed environmental officer on site.

After making their way onto the site cross country without much fuss they strolled into the central area housing double storey portacabin site offices to seek Mr Doyle and an explanation. Shortly after entering this area of the site health and safety officer "Steve" pulled up in his shiny silver land rover informing protesters that they were trespassing. Protesters related their concerns to Steve and informed him that they wished to speak with Tom Doyle, a name passed onto them by Mr John Cronin in the Bangor Shell office. According to Steve no person called Tom Doyle worked on the site. He refused to give the names of any of the environmental officers or persons responsible for Axonics on the site. A lengthy exchange with Steve ensued, which did not yield much satisfaction and as has been the frustrating norm he told campiagners to direct our concerns elsewhere.

Several security officers from the site requested that protesters leave and began to film and take photographs of the group. Protesters were on the site for twenty minutes to half an hour before the Gardai made an appearance. Two 'paddy wagons' drove onto the site and Gardai trooped out. Campaigners had already decided to leave the site and before the "Shell cops" could do anything campaigners informed Steve and the attendant security personal of their intensions to walk out the front gate, which they duly did followed by Gardai on foot and in the vans.

Chatting with Steve "stevie wonder" health and safety person on site.

Campaigners were filmed by security people.

Shell's cops: watching them watching us.

The view from the site.