Should I rush out and panic buy a tank of diesel?

[Caligula]

Apparantly the people who decide whether we're allowed to travel or not when they feel like it, the road haulier's association, are going to start blockading petrol stations on Wednesday. I have to drive about 150 miles on Thursday and I've only got a quarter of a tank.

Should I rush out and buy more?

[Skate]

I would!

Someone I know has been dealing with a main fuel depot in the north west and has advised us to keep our tanks topped up.

[trace2]

i filled up this morning

[Ladymuck]

Certainly if you happen to pass a petrol station I would fill up just in case.

[Toothache]

Caligula - Where are they blockading?? Where is the story, could you post a link?

I would say it would be sensible to go fill up your tank just now if this is imenant..... I remember the blockades in 2000. It was SOOOOO disruptive!!!

However.... can really understand why its happening this time.

[Caligula]

I don't have a link, I just heard it on the radio this morning.

This time round, it's because of the price of fuel isn't it, as opposed to the duty on it?

I can't understand how these people are allowed to hold motorists to ransom like this. Why don't the police just arrest them?

OK I don't like paying nearly £1 per litre either, but I prefer it to not being able to buy fuel at all!

[expatinscotland]

Down with Brown!

[Toothache]

Caligula - They can't force the price of petrol down as its governed by the price of oil. But they can try to get the government to lower the already MASSIVE tax on fuel in this country..... which would ease the pain until oil ptices calm down again.

It is inconvenient, but I'm all for it!!!!! If it works!

[tabitha]

Try here for info

[SlightlyTaintedSaintGeorge]

And here

[munz]

cal - cos it's reedom of speach and right to protest etc..

es - yes down with brown!

then mans not gonna reduce tax on fuel now is he?? let's be honest here I personally don't think he's gonna do it - where wil the money come from for all their wages??

[Caligula]

I doubt if a reduction on fuel tax will have any impact on politician's wages. However, it might have an impact on services.

This situation has been brought about by the price of oil itself, not the duty on it.

I really don't like the idea that a small special interest group can control government budgets, tbh.

Imagine if smokers decided to blockade supermarkets because they wanted the government to reduce duty on fags. I don't think we'd be too impressed.

[expatinscotland]

God forbid Brown give anyone a break on tax. Oh, no. I'd like to ask him if his alarm wakes him to the refrain from 'Who Let the Dogs Out' every morning. Or if he's phoned up Kenneth Clarke and congratulated him on his election win yet, cuz he's practically handing a victory over to the Tories at the rate he's going.

[Toothache]

But Caligula - The cost of cigarettes only effects smokers.
The cost of fuel effects everyone. The bus prices have just gone up 10% in my town! And the train prices will have to go up too, it costs me enough already to commute and I don't drive.

[expatinscotland]

The cost of food will also have to increase b/c of this.

'Who let the dogs out? Who? Who?'

[Easy]

but because the tax is a % of the price of oil, then the high price of oil has already netted Gordon Brown more revenue than expected. He should lower the fuel duty to bring the revenue back to the predicted levels

Do you understand the logic of that?

[Caligula]

Yes, but I still don't like the idea that the road haulier's association can bully the government into doing what they want.

But I agree that GB should adjust the duty according to the predicted revenues. I wouldn't agree with him cutting the duty if it actually cut the revenue he'd budgeted for though.

[Caligula]

(And actually I'm most fed up about the fact that I've got to go and make an unnecessary journey today in my car, to go and get fuel, when in the normal course of events I wouldn't have to get it till Thursday on my way to my venue - the road haulier's association are making me waste time and energy doing an unnecessary journey.)

[munz]

tbh I don't like the idea that this government seems to be able to tax us to the hilt and were expected to shell out all this extra money and have none of hte benifits - least not in my area we have none of the standards the government say we are. it's about time something was done about fuel if u ask me.

was only joking about his wages by the way!

[Toothache]

My goodness Caligula, that must be some journey you have to make to get diesel if you feel that put out by it!

But if it does work then it could be the difference, for some people, between affording to run a car or not! So an extra trip to the petrol station seems to pale into insignificance when looking at the bigger picture.... IMHO.

[expatinscotland]

A lot of people truly can't afford to live near their work and the public transport is crap. I feel terrifically sorry for them.

[Caligula]

No, it's only a five minute drive. But I resent having to take time out and start the car for no reason.

[moozoboozo]

I am annoyed as this has happened the week we are 100 quid over our overdraft limit, we have to pay our rent and we have almost no food. However, I need to put petrol in is I am running on gas and I need my car for work

[Toothache]

lol Caligula!

My DH usually spends £30 per week on petrol. Now we're about £45! Also when the train prices increase my commuting costs could go up by that too. Now for some people an extra £120 per month onto travelling costs is not managable.

[moozoboozo]

Just read this. Hope they do it, as it would save a lot of the panic of 2000. the govt want to impose a "maximum" fuel buy thing

[Easy]

oh brilliant. so how is dh supposed to get to and from work? or is he supposed to drive extra miles to go to different petrol stations to get a full tank?