Posted on 06/11/2008 3:03:23 PM PDT by blam
Petrol shortage fears as garage queues build
By David Millward, Transport Editor
Last Updated: 5:19PM BST 11/06/2008
Concerns over petrol shortages are leading to queues of motorists at the country's forecourts.
Lengthening queues at a petrol station in Mersyside.
There were reports of lines of cars outside garages on Merseyside and in Stoke.
It led to fears that Gordon Brown's plea to motorists not to panic ahead of a four day walk out by Shell's delivery drivers over the weekend could have backfired.
His appeal came as drivers were bracing them for even more bad news with the head of the Russian oil giant, Gazprom, predicting that oil prices could hit $250 a barrel in the "foreseeable future" .
This would take the price of a litre of unleaded petrol to 230 pence.
The Prime Minister had intervened in an attempt to head off a repetition of the panic-buying which accompanied the strike by refinery workers in Grangemouth in April.
His remarks and the publicity given to the Government's emergency measures appeared to have triggered alarm among some motorists, to the annoyance of the Petrol Retailers Association.
"It certainly didn't help. If people are panicking, then there is really no point in telling them not to do so," a spokesman said.
"As long as people are told not to panic, then they will be fine."
Even if petrol queues were sporadic, motoring organizations believe that more petrol and diesel was being bought by drivers as a precaution.
This in turn could lead to problems at forecourts given the carefully worked out delivery schedules by petrol suppliers.
"Filling stations work on a similar basis to supermarkets trying to have as much stock as they need, so they don't run dry," said an AA spokesman.
"A Bank Holiday weekend would normally see forecourts brimming with fuel, but this would not normally be the case at this time of year.
"If everybody with half a tank is filling up, there could be problems. That would throw out delivery schedules, compounding an already worrying situation".
The AA's fears were endorsed by Morrisons, the supermarket chain which also sells fuel.
"We have good levels of stock at our forecourts and we expect to have regular deliveries throughout the strike period," a spokesman said.
"However, we would ask that, to avoid the risk of shortages and unnecessary queuing caused by panic buying, people are sensible when purchasing their fuel."
There were also signs of a consumer backlash with a viral e-mail campaign urging drivers to boycott BP and Esso stations in the hope of forcing them – and then their rivals – to cut pump prices.
According to the latest figures, the cost of petrol and diesel hit new records on Tuesday hitting 117.16 and 130.52 pence respectively.
The Government has sought to provide reassurance to motorists by relaxing competition law so petrol companies can compare stock levels and bring in extra supplies to area where fuel is short.
Meanwhile Unite, the union representing 641 tanker drivers, met Shell's contractors, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, for last ditch peace talks at a secret location.
Both sides have been brought together by the Government's conciliation service, ACAS in an attempt to prevent a strike which is due to start at 6 am on Friday and last until 6 am next Tuesday.
Unite is claiming a 13 per cent pay increase, which would take drivers' minimum pay to £36,000 a year. Last week the union rejected a six per cent offer.
General Strike.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.