The blockade began Monday afternoon at the entry road to an AGL pilot well site on private land south of the town.

The blockade has been organised by the Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance, whose chairman Graeme Healy said AGL had been asked to stop work.

Mr Healy said residents were prepared to stay at the blockade until their ‘‘demands’’ were met.

These demands include a stop to all drilling in the Gloucester area until an independent water study was completed and its results released to the community.

Mr Healy said a nearby dairy farmer had been allowed to get milk trucks in and out but an AGL proposal for 40 to 50 gravel trucks to enter the site to make a road to the pilot wells was blocked.

‘‘We are deeply concerned that the proposed industrialisation of the valley will seriously harm or destroy its life-style and its economic base,’’ Mr Healy said.

The company said the drilling in the Forbesdale area was to obtain information on the area’s water supplies and was not linked to the approved 110 gas production wells that form the AGL Gloucester gas project.

AGL urged protesters to respect the company’s rights and to carry out activities in an orderly and a safe manner.

It said the company had landowner access agreements to the pilot well site.

Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon visited the blockade late today.

The alliance has challenged AGL’s Gloucester gas project in the Land and Environment Court and Mr Healy said a decision was expected in the new year.