Dartford Bridge Protesters Remanded After Chaos
Two Men Take Down Queen Elizabeth II Bridge
Morgan Trowland, 39, and Marcus Decker, 33, caused mayhem by climbing the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford. Their stunt blocked this vital link between Kent and Essex for two full days, sparking major travel chaos. Today, the pair appeared in court charged with public nuisance after refusing to come down.
Climbed High, Hung Banner, Stalled Traffic
The protesters used climbing gear to scale the bridge cables just before 4 a.m. on Monday. Police negotiators tried to get them down but eventually lost contact as the men climbed too high. They hung a giant Just Stop Oil banner and stayed put for almost 36 hours, finally ending the protest at 5.38 p.m. Tuesday.
Shouts of “Shame on You” as Bail Denied
The court heard emergency crews and the protesters themselves were put at risk during the stunt. Trowland, a civil engineer from Islington, and Decker, a musician with no fixed address, pleaded not guilty at Southend Magistrates’ Court. Bail was denied amid angry heckling from the public gallery shouting “shame on you”.
Next Steps: Trial Set for November
The duo have been remanded in custody until their next hearing at Basildon Crown Court on November 17 for plea and trial preparation. Drivers hope the ordeal ends soon, as the Dartford Crossing remains a key artery for thousands every day.
