Aggregate Industries and Tarmac were the targets of protests at quarries in Lancashire yesterday, which shut down the sites for the day.
Co-ordinated by Reclaim the Power as part of a two-week campaign, the protest on Monday (27 March) blocked the entrance to Tarmac’s Leapers Wood Quarry and Aggregate Industries’ Back Lane Quarry in Lancashire.
The sites were selected because they are believed to be supplying a local fracking site on Preston New Road, operated by Cuadrilla.
A spokesman for Tarmac said that while the business believed in lawful protest, it “cannot condone illegal attempts to stop industry from working on projects that have been through the correct democratic procedures, and that potentially put at risk the safety of our employees, customers, suppliers and the public”.
A spokesman for Aggregate Industries added: “Interfering with the safe running of our sites and operations presents a risk to the safety of protesters, colleagues and the local community. We urge people to remain safe when demonstrating on any issue.”
Aggregate said it did not know whether to expect any more disruption in the coming weeks.
An MP condemned the protestors, whose “futile attempt to oppose fracking” prevented hauliers from working on the two quarries.
David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, said: “This morning a group of activists has blockaded two quarries in my constituency in a futile attempt to oppose fracking.
“I condemn in the strongest terms this irresponsible intimidation of companies and road users trying to go about their lawful business and get on with their daily lives.
"The police have a difficult time without having to devote resources to manage people who are wasting time and standing in the way of jobs and opportunities for local people.”
