Hauliers stage low-key fuel price protest

LONDON - Hauliers, farmers and motorists staged protests across the country on Saturday against record petrol and diesel prices, but a poor turn-out saw some demonstrations called off.

The group, Transaction 2007, had organised demonstrations outside oil refineries in a string of locations, including Cheshire, Southampton, Tyne and Wear, Essex and Cardiff, over the government's refusal to cut fuel duty.

Almost two-thirds of the cost of petrol and diesel is made up of tax, which is set to rise by 2 pence per litre in April.

But, while small bands of protestors turned up at arranged meeting points, plans to picket some refineries were abandoned due to a lack of numbers.

In Scotland, a convoy of about 30 trucks from the Road Haulage Association travelled along major roads, passing Grangemouth refinery in Falkirk, as planned.

Despite the low turn-out, organisers said they were not disappointed and that the demonstrations should still be viewed as a warning to the government.

Speaking on Sky TV, Cardiff protest organiser David Handley said: "We've been very open and honest all week, and said that today was not about numbers.

"We've put it (fuel duty) right back on the agenda."

Diesel and petrol prices have hit record levels across Britain, with gasoline at the pump selling at an average of 1.03 pounds ($2.10) a litre and diesel at 1.08 pounds, the Automobile Association said on Thursday.

Tom Houghton, who organised the Chester protest, said fuel price increases were adding 250-300 pounds per week to costs for the average small haulier.

"You talk to farmers, you talk to hauliers, you talk to the general public -- they are totally incensed about the price of fuel," he told the BBC at a service station on the M56.

"It's just a warm-up to say: 'Look government, look at the job, look at this, do something about it'.

"We do not want to get back to 2000. But if we have to put rolling roads on ... and bring it to a head, then we will do."

In 2000, blockades by truckers of fuel storage depots and refineries caused panic buying and widespread petrol shortages, paralysing large swathes of the country. The demonstrations were a major test for the Labour government.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said unlawful blockades would not be tolerated and that police had the powers to deal with such action.

Environmental lobbying group the Campaign for Better Transport said the protestors were "misguided", as the price of motoring since Labour came to power in 1997 had fallen, while the cost of public transport had risen.

Roads and climate campaigner Rebecca Lush Blum said: "Actually, the government has bent over backwards to keep fuel tax very low: it hasn't risen in line with inflation for years.

"That's had disastrous effects for the economy and for the environment. Now what we're seeing is the government has started, just this year, to put in very small inflation-linked increases, and that's the right thing to do."