Target Tarmac

Huge police numbers managed to stop the 'Target Tarmac' action from taking place at its chosen location at a quarry in the Peak District, but an action did still take place elsewhere later in the day. As the convoy of vehicles approached the quarry they were stopped and searched under section 60 of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act. After that, they were searched again just down the road, until eventually most vehicles had been searched three or four times, in what police made no attempt to conceal was harassment. At least two people were nicked for possession, one of drugs, the other of a baseball bat (which actually was intended for playing baseball!), and a few people did get briefly into a nearby non-Tarmac quarry and managed to disrupt work for a time.

Wanting to get out of the area, several groups continued in convoy onto Manchester Airport where Tarmac are joint contractors. The fences were climbed with ease and activists clambered over the site's concrete making tower. Other machinery was occupied and the only remaining operational part of site - the lorry weighbridge - was occupied, shutting down the site. They stayed for a good half hour, until the police turned up in force. Some refused to leave until a pledge was made by the boss, in front of the workers, that they would all get full pay despite the protest. This was granted and so they left, visiting the camps and having a beautiful walk through the woods back to the vans.

Another piece of news filtered through during the day. Some striking safety inspectors, who had been planning to come along on the action, told us that nearly every Tarmac Quarry in the country had been shut all day, just as a precaution!