j.m@talk
09-09-2005, 06:05 PM
FUEL protesters have threatened to blockade every refinery in Britain next week unless the government cuts fuel taxes.
In a move raising the spectre of the demonstrations that caused widespread petrol shortages five years ago, ministers have been given a deadline of 6am next Wednesday for the action to start.
The threat has been prompted by soaring prices, which have seen unleaded fuel rising by an average of 7p a litre in two months, to nearly 95p in the UK. However, an increasing number of petrol stations are charging more than £1 a litre.
http://images.scotsman.com/2005/09/08/08gasb.jpg
Andrew Spence, a farmer and haulier, and spokesman for the Fuel Lobby campaign group, which organised the 2000 protests, issued the threat as prices edged even higher because of disruption caused by Hurricane Katrina.
He said: "We want to see an immediate reduction in taxation to bring fuel prices down or, as of 6am next Wednesday, there won't be a refinery in the country left open. Every refinery will be blockaded."
Hauliers in Scotland, who will today urge MSPs to hold an inquiry into the future of their industry, expressed mixed feelings about the threat.
While some said ill-feeling could quickly escalate into protests, others predicted a more muted reaction, pointing out the latest increases could not be pinned on the government. Some described Mr Spence as "a bit of a firebrand".
Attempts to make fuel a general election issue failed, with only a handful of protests staged in May.
Bryan Harper, a haulier based in Insch, Aberdeenshire, said: "Something needs to happen. The supply network could collapse like a pack of cards, there is so much ill-feeling. However, it is difficult to protest when prices on the world market are causing the problem."
Jim Macauley, the managing director of Cadzow Heavy Haulage in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, said he would not be getting involved, but added: "There are many agitated people. A lot of hotheads out there."
Robbie Burns, a haulier in Broxburn, West Lothian, said: "The chance of the government cutting taxes is slim to none. World oil prices were low for many years and we were paying a lot because the government was taxing us, but world prices are now high."
Phil Flanders, the Scotland and Northern Ireland director of the Road Haulage Association, said he was not aware of any planned protests north of the Border. He said nearly 200 hauliers had protested lawfully outside the Grangemouth refinery before the election, but any blockades would be illegal.
John Roberts, an energy security specialist, said the Fuel Lobby action could produce very serious results, but he agreed there was a major difference between now and 2000.
He said: "Then they had tremendous popular support. This time it is clearer that the high prices are essentially out of the government's control."
Greenpeace said the protesters should accept they must rely less on fossil fuels.
Mark Strutt, a campaigner for the environmental group, welcomed the price rises as helping to reduce the overall consumption of fuel.
The AA Motoring Trust acknowledged that despite soaring fuel prices, the overall cost of motoring was still less than ten years ago thanks to lower car prices and a fall in other running costs in real terms, such as MoT tests.
The fuel price increases are also hitting train operators.
The number of commuters signing up to share cars has doubled in the past three months because of rising fuel costs. Liftshare.com, the UK's largest car-sharing scheme, said it now had more than 12,000 people registered.
The government claimed cutting fuel taxes was not the answer. A spokesman for the Treasury said: "We believe the biggest priority in terms of reducing fuel costs must be working with the American government to restore production levels affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster, as well as maintaining pressure on OPEC to set their oil production at levels consistent with more stable and sustainable prices.
"More than half the fuel used in the UK bears little or no fuel duty at all, including the red diesel used by farmers like Mr Spence, and the fuel used in industrial production, heating of homes and workplaces, and rail and bus transport, so seeking to address the problem of high oil prices through road fuel duty alone would do nothing for the majority.
"It is worth noting that road fuel duty rates on the main types of petrol and diesel are lower now than they were six years ago and, since then, the main rates of road fuel duty have fallen nearly 12 per cent in real terms, saving the average motorist about 6p per litre every time they fill up."
He added that the Treasury - in light of the volatility in the oil market - took the decision last year not to go ahead with the annual inflation increase in fuel duties, and this year had also delayed the annual increase until it could review the position in the pre-Budget report.
http://images.scotsman.com/network/banner_logo.gif
In a move raising the spectre of the demonstrations that caused widespread petrol shortages five years ago, ministers have been given a deadline of 6am next Wednesday for the action to start.
The threat has been prompted by soaring prices, which have seen unleaded fuel rising by an average of 7p a litre in two months, to nearly 95p in the UK. However, an increasing number of petrol stations are charging more than £1 a litre.
http://images.scotsman.com/2005/09/08/08gasb.jpg
Andrew Spence, a farmer and haulier, and spokesman for the Fuel Lobby campaign group, which organised the 2000 protests, issued the threat as prices edged even higher because of disruption caused by Hurricane Katrina.
He said: "We want to see an immediate reduction in taxation to bring fuel prices down or, as of 6am next Wednesday, there won't be a refinery in the country left open. Every refinery will be blockaded."
Hauliers in Scotland, who will today urge MSPs to hold an inquiry into the future of their industry, expressed mixed feelings about the threat.
While some said ill-feeling could quickly escalate into protests, others predicted a more muted reaction, pointing out the latest increases could not be pinned on the government. Some described Mr Spence as "a bit of a firebrand".
Attempts to make fuel a general election issue failed, with only a handful of protests staged in May.
Bryan Harper, a haulier based in Insch, Aberdeenshire, said: "Something needs to happen. The supply network could collapse like a pack of cards, there is so much ill-feeling. However, it is difficult to protest when prices on the world market are causing the problem."
Jim Macauley, the managing director of Cadzow Heavy Haulage in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, said he would not be getting involved, but added: "There are many agitated people. A lot of hotheads out there."
Robbie Burns, a haulier in Broxburn, West Lothian, said: "The chance of the government cutting taxes is slim to none. World oil prices were low for many years and we were paying a lot because the government was taxing us, but world prices are now high."
Phil Flanders, the Scotland and Northern Ireland director of the Road Haulage Association, said he was not aware of any planned protests north of the Border. He said nearly 200 hauliers had protested lawfully outside the Grangemouth refinery before the election, but any blockades would be illegal.
John Roberts, an energy security specialist, said the Fuel Lobby action could produce very serious results, but he agreed there was a major difference between now and 2000.
He said: "Then they had tremendous popular support. This time it is clearer that the high prices are essentially out of the government's control."
Greenpeace said the protesters should accept they must rely less on fossil fuels.
Mark Strutt, a campaigner for the environmental group, welcomed the price rises as helping to reduce the overall consumption of fuel.
The AA Motoring Trust acknowledged that despite soaring fuel prices, the overall cost of motoring was still less than ten years ago thanks to lower car prices and a fall in other running costs in real terms, such as MoT tests.
The fuel price increases are also hitting train operators.
The number of commuters signing up to share cars has doubled in the past three months because of rising fuel costs. Liftshare.com, the UK's largest car-sharing scheme, said it now had more than 12,000 people registered.
The government claimed cutting fuel taxes was not the answer. A spokesman for the Treasury said: "We believe the biggest priority in terms of reducing fuel costs must be working with the American government to restore production levels affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster, as well as maintaining pressure on OPEC to set their oil production at levels consistent with more stable and sustainable prices.
"More than half the fuel used in the UK bears little or no fuel duty at all, including the red diesel used by farmers like Mr Spence, and the fuel used in industrial production, heating of homes and workplaces, and rail and bus transport, so seeking to address the problem of high oil prices through road fuel duty alone would do nothing for the majority.
"It is worth noting that road fuel duty rates on the main types of petrol and diesel are lower now than they were six years ago and, since then, the main rates of road fuel duty have fallen nearly 12 per cent in real terms, saving the average motorist about 6p per litre every time they fill up."
He added that the Treasury - in light of the volatility in the oil market - took the decision last year not to go ahead with the annual inflation increase in fuel duties, and this year had also delayed the annual increase until it could review the position in the pre-Budget report.
http://images.scotsman.com/network/banner_logo.gif