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Slow start to fuel price protests Low turnout for fuel price demos
(about 2 hours later)
Protests against the rising cost of fuel got off to a slow start as small pockets of demonstrators gathered at oil refineries across the UK. Nationwide protests against the rising cost of fuel have failed to attract as many demonstrators as organisers hoped.
The day of action comes after fuel prices on garage forecourts rose above the £1 per litre mark in recent weeks. Protests were planned at oil refineries across the UK, but only a small number of people braved the cold to turn up.
A Road Haulage Association convoy of about 45 vehicles is also creating a rolling blockade on roads in Scotland. In Southampton, 25 people attended the largest demonstration of the day. But in Essex, another protest consisted of a single pensioner.
According to reports, the number of protesters in many parts of the country was lower than anticipated. Organisers insisted the fight against rising fuel prices would continue into the New Year.
The government has warned unlawful blockades should not be tolerated.
RebatesRebates
Peaceful demonstrations by a group calling itself Transaction 2007 were planned outside oil refineries at Stanlow (Ellesmere Port, Cheshire), Fawley (Southampton), Jarrow (Tyne and Wear), Purfleet (Essex), Cardiff, Immingham (North East Lincolnshire), and Grangemouth (Falkirk). The protests were called by an umbrella group - Transaction 2007 - which represents farmers and road hauliers, among other road users.
The group is concerned that rising fuel prices - now above £1 per litre - are hurting its members financially. It wants the government to cut fuel duty and introduce rebates for what it calls "essential" road users.
It also wants extra duties to be imposed on non-UK lorries that come into the country on business.
Fifteen fuel price protesters arrived at the giant Fawley refinery in Southampton, but at Grangemouth in Falkirk, no-one turned up.
In a separate protest organised by the Scottish branch of the Road Haulage Association, a convoy of 45 trucks travelled across central Scotland.
Around eight protesters gathered at Chester Services, on the M56, before moving to a protest point at the gates of the Ellesmere Port refinery, but the demonstration was later abandoned.Around eight protesters gathered at Chester Services, on the M56, before moving to a protest point at the gates of the Ellesmere Port refinery, but the demonstration was later abandoned.
Fifteen fuel price protesters arrived at the giant Fawley refinery in Southampton, but at Grangemouth no demonstrators turned up. Loud and clear
Local organiser Tom Houghton, a beef farmer from nearby Sandbach, denied the action was a failure and said: "We are sending the message to Mr Brown loud and clear."
He warned: "It only takes a few trucks to bring this country to gridlock. "I hope it doesn't come to that but it could easily happen given the seriousness of the situation."
Any disruption to fuel supply would cause a great deal of inconvenience to people Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Why have prices risen?Any disruption to fuel supply would cause a great deal of inconvenience to people Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Why have prices risen?
There were no lorry drivers at the fuel depot at Purfleet, Essex, where a demonstration was due to be staged - but there was a protest from a lone pensioner.There were no lorry drivers at the fuel depot at Purfleet, Essex, where a demonstration was due to be staged - but there was a protest from a lone pensioner.
June Walker, 61, of Rainham, Essex, said: "I've got nothing to do with the haulage industry. I'm just a pensioner who pays £57 to fill up a Peugeot 307."June Walker, 61, of Rainham, Essex, said: "I've got nothing to do with the haulage industry. I'm just a pensioner who pays £57 to fill up a Peugeot 307."
There were eight supporters who turned out for the Cardiff protest, outside the Texaco refinery at the city's Roath Dock. There were also some eight protesters at Jarrow - all on foot. Eight supporters turned out for a protest in Cardiff, outside the Texaco refinery at the city's Roath Dock. There were also eight protesters at Jarrow - all on foot.
Protester Rob Muir, a 42-year-old farmer from Wolsingham, Co Durham, was disappointed more people had not joined the demonstration.Protester Rob Muir, a 42-year-old farmer from Wolsingham, Co Durham, was disappointed more people had not joined the demonstration.
He said: "We just roll over and take it in this country.He said: "We just roll over and take it in this country.
"If this was France it would be a different story. There are eight of us here and I thought there would be a lot more than that.""If this was France it would be a different story. There are eight of us here and I thought there would be a lot more than that."
Transaction 2007, which says it represents hauliers, farmers and motorists, is calling for rebates on the price of fuel for hauliers, farmers and essential road-users and a reduction in the level of tax on fuel. Back after Christmas
It also wants extra duties to be imposed on non-UK lorries that come into the country on business. The chairman of one of the groups involved in the protest - Farmers for Action - warned that if the government refused to negotiate his members would continue to protest into the New Year.
David Handley - who helped lead a successful fuel-tax protest in 2000 - insisted he was not disappointed with the turnout.
He said: "If the Government don't sit down with us then we will be back after Christmas and it won't be as pleasant as it is now - if you put a rat up a drainpipe and he can't do anything to get out, what's he going to do?"
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said the situation was being monitored and plans were in place to "mitigate any future fuel supply disruptions".The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said the situation was being monitored and plans were in place to "mitigate any future fuel supply disruptions".
A blockade of oil refineries in 2000 brought the country to a standstill and forced the government to cut tax on petrol.
Green solutionsGreen solutions
A coalition of leading environmentalists says any shift in government policy should be about creating alternatives to the roads rather than making it cheaper to drive by cutting fuel taxes. Meanwhile a coalition of leading environmentalists have called on the government to improve public transport and encourage more efficient vehicles, rather than cut fuel tax.
"If the government is serious about tackling climate change it must not cave in to pressure to make road travel even cheaper," said Tony Bosworth, of Friends of the Earth. Tony Bosworth of Friends of the Earth said: "If the government is serious about tackling climate change it must not cave in to pressure to make road travel even cheaper."
"Instead it should force car manufacturers to make more fuel-efficient vehicles and invest in getting people and freight off our roads and onto cleaner alternatives instead." In October duty on fuel rose by 2p per litre. Duty rises over the last decade add up to 25% - less than the rate of inflation. But oil prices have gone up 270% in the same period.
WWF-UK's Peter Lockley said making road travel more affordable for all is not in the best interest of road hauliers or the environment.
"Investment in public transport would ease congestion on UK roads, which in turn would cut fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions for hauliers," he said.
Tax freeze
Saturday's convoy protest in Scotland is being organised by the Scottish branch of the Road Haulage Association (RHA).
The RHA representing hauliers in the rest of the UK stresses that it is not connected to the Transaction 2007 refinery protests.
Lorry drivers are calling for the government to introduce a fuel price regulator, which would freeze fuel duty while the price of oil remains volatile, and are unhappy about October's 2p increase in fuel duty.
Philip Flanders, of the Road Haulage Association in Scotland, said the convoy set out from Hamilton Services at 1000 GMT, moving eastwards towards Stirling along the M74, the M8, the M9 towards Stirling, then the M876.
The trucks passed the Ineos plant at Grangemouth before joining the A80 and heading south into Glasgow.
Duty rises over the last decade add up to 25% - less than the rate of inflation. But oil prices have gone up 270% in the same period.