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Fuel protest causes road misery | Fuel protest causes road misery |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A protest by hundreds of lorry drivers and farmers over the price of fuel has caused traffic chaos for holidaymakers. | |
A convoy of lorries and tractors is travelling slowly along the A30 in Cornwall between Hayle to Launceston. | |
The drivers' action comes at the end of the Whitsun half-term break, when thousands of people are trying to leave the county to go home. | |
A separate fuel price protest on the A30 between Launceston and Lifton in Devon has also taken place. | |
A BBC Radio Cornwall reporter at the scene of the main protest said the convoy was travelling at less than 10mph and traffic appeared to be gridlocked. | |
There's just lorries as far as the eye can see Pete Atkinson, eyewitness | |
"On just about every slipway and bridge there's another bunch of lorries waiting to join," Michael Taylor said. | |
Neil Hart, who operates a haulage company in Pool, Redruth, with 22 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) took part in the protest because he could no longer afford the fuel prices. | |
"In the past year it's cost £200,000 more in diesel," he said. | |
"That's about £16,000 a month extra and we just can't pass any more on to our customers. | |
"What we need is a rebate of 25p per litre." | |
Bill Harper, one of the organisers of the Devon protest, said although he was not planning to lay anybody off, he was worried about the situation. | |
'Sharp message' | |
He owns an animal feed business in Holsworthy and is responsible for more than 30 vehicles. | |
Mr Harper said the Devon protest was beginning to disperse, but about 250 drivers had sent a "short, sharp message" to the government. | |
"I'm pleased because the response from the public has been very supportive, despite the tailbacks," he said. | |
Motorist Pete Atkinson said: "Looking from the bridge at Launceston towards Lifton, there's just lorries as far as the eye can see. | |
"No-one's going anywhere fast." | |
Devon and Cornwall Police drivers could delay their journeys until later in the afternoon or use alternative A roads to avoid the protests. | |
A police spokesman said the situation was currently being monitored and the convoy was being kept to a single lane to allow other road users to pass. | |
An owner of holiday cottages in Cornwall, who did not want to be named, told the BBC some of his guests were upset at the timing of the protest. | An owner of holiday cottages in Cornwall, who did not want to be named, told the BBC some of his guests were upset at the timing of the protest. |
'Bad experience' | |
"The weather hasn't been brilliant this week, but most people have still had a lovely holiday," he said. | "The weather hasn't been brilliant this week, but most people have still had a lovely holiday," he said. |
"I understand why the lorry drivers are protesting, but at the same time I worry that if holidaymakers have a really bad experience going home, it might make them think twice about coming back to Cornwall." | "I understand why the lorry drivers are protesting, but at the same time I worry that if holidaymakers have a really bad experience going home, it might make them think twice about coming back to Cornwall." |
Earlier this week, hundreds of road hauliers staged fuel protests in London and Cardiff. | Earlier this week, hundreds of road hauliers staged fuel protests in London and Cardiff. |
They have said businesses are being driven to the wall by the high cost of diesel and have called on the government to abandon a planned 2p rise in fuel duty. | They have said businesses are being driven to the wall by the high cost of diesel and have called on the government to abandon a planned 2p rise in fuel duty. |