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| Hauliers protest over fuel prices | Hauliers protest over fuel prices |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of hauliers have arrived in London to demonstrate against the rising cost of fuel. | Hundreds of hauliers have arrived in London to demonstrate against the rising cost of fuel. |
| Lorries are parking up on the A40 which has been partly closed. Some are travelling in police-led convoys into the heart of the city. | Lorries are parking up on the A40 which has been partly closed. Some are travelling in police-led convoys into the heart of the city. |
| A group of drivers has also gathered on foot for a rally in Westminster. Their last demonstration in May caused major traffic disruption. | |
| They are demanding a 25p-in-the-pound tax rebate on diesel. | They are demanding a 25p-in-the-pound tax rebate on diesel. |
| The protest coincides with a debate in Parliament on the controversial increase in vehicle excise duty planned by Chancellor Alastair Darling. | The protest coincides with a debate in Parliament on the controversial increase in vehicle excise duty planned by Chancellor Alastair Darling. |
| The average price of diesel is now £1.32 per litre and hauliers say this leaves them with fuel bills of up to £1,000 per week for a typical articulated lorry. | |
| 'Last-ditch attempt' | 'Last-ditch attempt' |
| Lorry drivers gathered at Medway Services in Kent on Wednesday morning before setting off along the M2 towards the capital at about 0800 BST. The convoy included vehicles from as far away as Cornwall and North Yorkshire. | Lorry drivers gathered at Medway Services in Kent on Wednesday morning before setting off along the M2 towards the capital at about 0800 BST. The convoy included vehicles from as far away as Cornwall and North Yorkshire. |
| A second convoy set off from Gateway Services on the M1.Advertisement | |
| Trucks setting off for the protest from Medway services | Trucks setting off for the protest from Medway services |
| Previous demonstrations this year were not endorsed by the the Road Haulage Association (RHA), but this time the organisation is joining in the action, claiming the entire UK economy is at risk from rising fuel costs. | Previous demonstrations this year were not endorsed by the the Road Haulage Association (RHA), but this time the organisation is joining in the action, claiming the entire UK economy is at risk from rising fuel costs. |
| National chairman of the RHA Andy Boyle said: "If ever there was positive proof that ours is an industry in crisis then this surely must be it. | National chairman of the RHA Andy Boyle said: "If ever there was positive proof that ours is an industry in crisis then this surely must be it. |
| "The harsh reality is that the price of fuel is now forcing many hauliers out of business. For many, today will represent a last-ditch attempt at making their voice heard." | "The harsh reality is that the price of fuel is now forcing many hauliers out of business. For many, today will represent a last-ditch attempt at making their voice heard." |
| Part of the London-bound A40 will be closed from 1000 to 1600 BST. | Part of the London-bound A40 will be closed from 1000 to 1600 BST. |
| From 1030 BST, groups of lorries about 20 lorries are being led by police motorcycle into the heart of London, travelling via Marble Arch, Vauxhall Bridge and Westminster Bridge and ending up on Victoria Embankment. The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe Peter CarollTransAction 2007 MPs gear up for car tax challenge | From 1030 BST, groups of lorries about 20 lorries are being led by police motorcycle into the heart of London, travelling via Marble Arch, Vauxhall Bridge and Westminster Bridge and ending up on Victoria Embankment. The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe Peter CarollTransAction 2007 MPs gear up for car tax challenge |
| Drivers and supporters have also gathered for a "foot lobby" outside the Houses of Parliament. | |
| Peter Caroll, owner of Seymour Transport and member of lobby group TransAction 2007, told the BBC that British hauliers could not compete with foreign rivals. | |
| "We are under mortal threat. The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe," he said. | "We are under mortal threat. The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe," he said. |
| "The most important reason for that catastrophe is that continental hauliers pay, on average, 25p per litre less in fuel duty than we do. We pay the highest in the EU." | "The most important reason for that catastrophe is that continental hauliers pay, on average, 25p per litre less in fuel duty than we do. We pay the highest in the EU." |
| Hauliers want to be given an essential user rebate of between 20 and 25p. | Hauliers want to be given an essential user rebate of between 20 and 25p. |
| 'Very sad' | 'Very sad' |
| One of the first drivers to arrive in the capital was Paul Prout, 34, who operates five lorries based in Melksham, Wiltshire. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme | |
| He said: "It's all very sad. I've just learned that one of my drivers has had a baby, but I can't afford to run the business just to keep him in a job. | He said: "It's all very sad. I've just learned that one of my drivers has had a baby, but I can't afford to run the business just to keep him in a job. |
| "I have a wife and four children of my own. If I can't make any money running my own lorries, I will have to pack up and go and work for someone else." | "I have a wife and four children of my own. If I can't make any money running my own lorries, I will have to pack up and go and work for someone else." |
| Another driver, Mike Wright, 61, from the Heathrow-based Roy Bowles company, said "wildcat protests" could be the next step all across the country. | |
| "They will block every motorway in the country and then the government might listen," he said. | "They will block every motorway in the country and then the government might listen," he said. |
| Police say about 300 lorries took part in the protest in May, and organisers of Wednesday's event say more are expected this time. | Police say about 300 lorries took part in the protest in May, and organisers of Wednesday's event say more are expected this time. |
| Conservative MP Tim Yeo, who chairs the Commons Environmental Audit Committee, told the BBC it would be "a grave mistake" if the government were to give in to the hauliers' demands. | Conservative MP Tim Yeo, who chairs the Commons Environmental Audit Committee, told the BBC it would be "a grave mistake" if the government were to give in to the hauliers' demands. |
| "Emissions from road transport, in particular cars and trucks, have risen by 12% since 1997," Mr Yeo said. | "Emissions from road transport, in particular cars and trucks, have risen by 12% since 1997," Mr Yeo said. |
| "Over that same period fuel duty has actually fallen in real terms by more than a tenth, so the government has actually been weakening its tax measures to deal with carbon emissions." | "Over that same period fuel duty has actually fallen in real terms by more than a tenth, so the government has actually been weakening its tax measures to deal with carbon emissions." |
| Are you a lorry driver? Will you be attending the protest? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you a lorry driver? Will you be attending the protest? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |