Mar 28, 2017

Break the Chain - Fortnight of Action Against Fracking Supply Chain Begins

Campaigners block access to quarry supplying material to fracking industry, calling on suppliers to 'break the chain' that enables fracking against the wishes of locals.
By Andrew Butler / filmsforaction.org
Break the Chain - Fortnight of Action Against Fracking Supply Chain Begins
Credit: Kristian Buus

Anti-fracking activists have swung into action in Lancashire, successfully blocking access to a quarry site that supplies materials to fracking company Cuadrilla. Key access points to the site were blocked by two protests suspended on swings from height bars, halting all lorry movements in or out of the site for a full day.

Action #1: Swing blockade

The action is the first in a two-week long 'Break the Chain' call to action, exposing and disrupting supply companies that prop-up the fracking industry in the UK.

The fracking industry isn’t just drill sites, it’s everywhere across the UK – but so is our movement, and we’re ready to fight. We will take out the links in the fracking supply chain one by one, before uniting this summer to take on what’s left of the industry.

- Reclaim the Power

The quarry, operated by Aggregate Industries, are supplying materials to the controversial fracking site at Preston New Road, near Blackpool, which is subject to on ongoing rolling roadside protest. Fracking is going ahead in Lancashire despite overwhelming public opposition and being rejected by the local council who blocked planning applications to frack in the area, a decision that was overturned by the frack-friendly Conservative government in October last year. At least four companies - Armstrong Aggregates, Moore’s Readymix Concrete, Cemex and CRH Plant Hire - have stopped supplying fracking company Cuadrilla as a result of rising protests against their involvement. 

One of the protesters involved in the Aggregate action said:

We need to give Aggregate Industries a reason to rethink its position, which is at odds with local democracy. Lancashire said no to fracking. Its imposition threatens local jobs and health and will have deadly impacts on those already facing the consequences of climate change in drought-hit East Africa and beyond.  We’re asking Aggregate Industries to do the decent thing. Follow the example of other companies in the area. Step away from fracking your neighbours and we’ll gladly come down.

Action #1: Swing blockade

The blockade came to an end after 11 hours, and organisers hope that the protests over the next few weeks will help expose the large network of industrial processes, from sand quarrying to toxic water dumping, that fracking necessitates. There are also plans build momentum for a national grassroots response to fracking plans in 2017.

For more information and to get involved, visit Reclaim The Power

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