After a two-hour standoff between protesters and a truck driver hauling equipment to the contentious biosolids composting facility in Lower Nicola, protesters and BioCentral reached an agreement Wednesday at noon.

Protesters allowed the truck to pass through the blockade in exchange for an in-person meeting with representatives from BioCentral, including owner Andres Murillo.

The meeting is set to take place May 6 at the Shulus community hall at 10 a.m.

BioCentral recently filed a notice of civil claim against the protesters, but said it would stand down on injunction proceedings and would not haul biosolids to the facility until the meeting has taken place.

The equipment truck was escorted by protesters through the blockade after the agreement was received in writing from the company.

“As a show of good faith, we humbly request that our equipment and building materials be allowed to pass this protest today and our truck be allowed to return back to the [Lower] Mainland with some of our product,” the letter read.

Chiefs of the five area bands were at the protest as well, but were said to be simply observers.

Lower Nicola Chief Aaron Sam said the chiefs will discuss whether or not they will be a part of the meeting with BioCentral.

Sam said it made sense to let the truck pass through as it wasn’t hauling biosolids.

Waiting along the side of Highway 8 that morning for the truck they were told was on its way, about 50 protesters prepared to block its path despite the possibility of legal action against them.

RCMP officers were on scene directing traffic around and through the blockade and speaking with the parties involved.

They were there to keep the peace as protesters and BioCentral negotiated and did not arrest any protesters.

When the truck was stopped, a group of the protesters talked with the truck driver, Peiter Neels, who said he was not hauling biosolids.

They asked for and received phone numbers for management, and made contact with the company to engage in discussions.

Neels told media at the protest that he anticipated the blockade, but to his knowledge the company had an injunction to allow the truck through.

He told the Herald the equipment he was hauling was a greenhouse and a container for composting biosolids.

Cory Herman, BioCentral division manager, said the greenhouse should help alleviate the community’s concerns, but couldn’t elaborate on how.

A process server was on site as well to serve notice of civil claim to protesters participating in the blockade.

Herman said the process server was there as a backup in case the truck wasn’t allowed through.

“We’re hoping to not have to take any further legal steps,” he said.

A spokesperson with BioCentral said the agenda for the May 6 meeting would be set by the protesters at a later date.