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Original poster

Fuel how long will it last?

69 replies

30tanned · 03/10/2021 14:23

What's everyone's guesses on how long this will last my area seems to be fine now but daily mail is painting a terrible picture makes me feel very uneasy ... what's everyone's thoughts when it will ease?

OP posts:
Wazzzzzzzup · 03/10/2021 15:51

That's simply not enough. All the people who went home because they were told they weren't welcome aren't coming back any time soon just because Priti Ghastly offers them a temporary visa.

Yeah, the temporary truck driver visa would be a great laugh it it weren't somewhat insulting.

ThinWomansBrain · 03/10/2021 15:51

I was driving in central and south east london yesterday - I noticed about ten petrol stations, none were closed, the only two with queues were supermarket ones wher the fuel is about 3p cheaper per litre.
Was on main BBC news that the same area is still badly affected Hmm

idiotfacelicker · 03/10/2021 15:53

@30tanned

Do we think the army being deployed as of tomorrow will help much? Didn't realise just how bad it was in SE it's so worrying!

There are over 8,000 petrol stations in the country. There are 531 in London alone.
They have deployed 100 army drivers...

Runforthehillocks · 03/10/2021 15:55

@Ponoka7

Lots of sectors want staff, temporary, fast visas are needed. This isn't going to be popular with the Brexit-to-cut-immigration crowd, so several crisis situations will have to be created.
This. ^^
Grenlei · 03/10/2021 15:58

@ThinWomansBrain

I was driving in central and south east london yesterday - I noticed about ten petrol stations, none were closed, the only two with queues were supermarket ones wher the fuel is about 3p cheaper per litre. Was on main BBC news that the same area is still badly affected Hmm
I don't know where you were in the southeast/London but in our area, the nearby supermarket stations are both closed, they reopen when they get a delivery, there are 90 min queues and then it's all gone. The Esso, BP, Harvest etc are all the same.

We are 'south of the river' though, I understand that in parts of Essex/East London the situation is nowhere near as bad and you can get fuel in most places albeit with a queue.

gogohm · 03/10/2021 15:58

According to the media, there's no issues outside of the se now. We have had fuel in my town since last Sunday for instance. I suspect the main issue in the se is population density and the fact there are far fewer petrol stations than years gone by meaning even without scaremongering media stories they need to be refilled most days anyway and the refineries are quite a distance meaning they take a driver a whole shift - compare that to me where it's only 90 mins approx from nearest refinery and the petrol is delivered weekly typically

Wazzzzzzzup · 03/10/2021 15:59

I don't think many people realise how that "Christmas wve" visa feel to many europeans.
"We don't want you"
"Actually just a bit now but you need to fuck off before Christmas"
People who can afford visa process and move are not usually the ones who can just go for 3 months, they have jobs, rentals etc. Some drivers pointed out that if it were for 12 months, it would be better and also felt better.
You can't not want cheap workforce, moan about it and then when shit hits the fan do a turnaround with aome stupid offer.

GCAcademic · 03/10/2021 16:01

@gamerchick

Our local paper is doing a big push on electric cars. Hmm
I'm imagining the next crisis: too many people with new electric cars and lack of infrastructure for charging them!
idiotfacelicker · 03/10/2021 16:02

@Wazzzzzzzup

I don't think many people realise how that "Christmas wve" visa feel to many europeans. "We don't want you" "Actually just a bit now but you need to fuck off before Christmas" People who can afford visa process and move are not usually the ones who can just go for 3 months, they have jobs, rentals etc. Some drivers pointed out that if it were for 12 months, it would be better and also felt better. You can't not want cheap workforce, moan about it and then when shit hits the fan do a turnaround with aome stupid offer.
I think most of us do realise what piss poor offer it is but it isn't within our power to make a better offer.

It's like when people abroad ask why we don't do something. Do what? We Marched and protested. There are online campaigns and attempts to educate the public. What can be done?

Runforthehillocks · 03/10/2021 16:02

Sunday Times reporting that meat processors plan to recruit butchers from the Philippines as there is a shortage of 15,000 butchers now. It seems we didn't want the foreigners 'taking our jobs' but we don't actually want to do those jobs?

lindjam · 03/10/2021 16:06

I am in SE and my empty light is on. I have driven around a few times trying to find an open station, and now have probably only enough to get to my nearest station if I can get in without queuing for more than 15 minutes.

So I am stuck. Medical appt tomorrow morning which I will have to walk to for an hour, even if it's pouring with rain. I guess I could try a taxi but obviously they are really busy, and very limited as they have no petrol either. No public transport options.

I am glad for you if there is no problem where you are, but please don't paint the rest of us as panicking fools. We really can't get any fuel Sad

lindjam · 03/10/2021 16:08

Not aimed at you OP obviously Flowers

Crunchymum · 03/10/2021 16:11

@GivenUpEntirely

Frankly I'm amazed it's still a problem in parts of the UK. No queues or closed stations here since at least Tuesday but the media are still trying to make a big drama out of it 🙄
Well it is absolutely dire where we are.

I'm glad it isn't an issue for you, but please understand it is a very real issue for some of us.

Wazzzzzzzup · 03/10/2021 16:15

@idiotfacelicker (lovely nick😂) ywah, most people do..many don't and think that everyone ahould be grateful for the chance to come to UK for couple of months. The ship has sailed.
I've seen it now on certain expat (immigrant) groups where people now openly answer questions about immigrating here with "don't, better places with no paperwork"...
We all better get used to living like we are not in a first world country (are we even still when one looks at what characterizes it?)...

scarpa · 03/10/2021 16:18

@GivenUpEntirely

Frankly I'm amazed it's still a problem in parts of the UK. No queues or closed stations here since at least Tuesday but the media are still trying to make a big drama out of it 🙄
Not the case in lots of areas though. Got a member of staff stuck 200 miles away from home in the SE with the work vehicle, who couldn't find anywhere within 20 miles to fill up yesterday and hasn't yet managed today.

My mum hasn't been able to do her job for 4 days - she's a self employed cleaner, can't get taxis as they're not running near us and her clients are rural.

And I've been WFH all week because I get any for love nor money. That's 3 different areas of the UK, all having difficulties. Just because it's not in your one town doesn't mean it isn't elsewhere!

JizzyJane · 03/10/2021 16:23

SW here, no fuel here at all. Just had to walk 5 miles to get formula for DD

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 03/10/2021 16:27

@lindjam

I am in SE and my empty light is on. I have driven around a few times trying to find an open station, and now have probably only enough to get to my nearest station if I can get in without queuing for more than 15 minutes.

So I am stuck. Medical appt tomorrow morning which I will have to walk to for an hour, even if it's pouring with rain. I guess I could try a taxi but obviously they are really busy, and very limited as they have no petrol either. No public transport options.

I am glad for you if there is no problem where you are, but please don't paint the rest of us as panicking fools. We really can't get any fuel Sad

I'm in SE London and I agree with PPs the position here is not good. Lots of garages are closed with no fuel or with just diesel. I am walking or bussing everywhere to try not to add to the problem.
nunamenuyear · 03/10/2021 16:31

West kent - army were delivering fuel yesterday but most petrol stations still don't have any, unlike in the north.
I think it's all politics, the government is desperate to keep the "red wall" votes (they won't but that's why the Tory conference is happening in Manchester) and take Tory support in the south east completely for granted. I hope they get the come uppance they deserve.

If Boris thought Brexit was such a great idea he could at least have planned for it so we wouldn't now be in the mess we are.

Autumngoldleaf · 03/10/2021 16:31

Omg hannible.

Still awful around here, dh went to five places to get me fuel this am. 3 empty, 3th had massive que he managed smallish ish que and £30 for the last.

That should get me through the week

Wazzzzzzzup · 03/10/2021 16:32

Has anyone figured out yet what are they dostracting us from?

idiotfacelicker · 03/10/2021 16:33

@nunamenuyear

West kent - army were delivering fuel yesterday but most petrol stations still don't have any, unlike in the north. I think it's all politics, the government is desperate to keep the "red wall" votes (they won't but that's why the Tory conference is happening in Manchester) and take Tory support in the south east completely for granted. I hope they get the come uppance they deserve. If Boris thought Brexit was such a great idea he could at least have planned for it so we wouldn't now be in the mess we are.

This completely. It's all about keeping the "red wall" sweet. That's why there's no chance they'll divert any supply this way despite the obvious dire need. That and they hate Sadie Khan and will do anything to cause trouble for him.

idiotfacelicker · 03/10/2021 16:33

*Sadiq

ShowOfHands · 03/10/2021 16:35

I'm in Norfolk. I managed to get a small amount of fuel 10 days ago. No fuel available anywhere locally atm. A station 10 miles away had a delivery yesterday and within minutes, the queues were astronomical. Sold out v quickly.

DH is a police officer so a couple of places have a small supply he has used to enable him to work but I've been trying for 3 days to no avail. No fuel anywhere I can actually get to on fumes. Luckily, I have a bike and an understanding boss but it's worse here than it was a week ago.

It will just take time.

idiotfacelicker · 03/10/2021 16:39

It will take more than time. The pent up demand means that even if supplies get to "normal" it won't be enough. This will be ongoing to some degree for a good while.

Floralnomad · 03/10/2021 16:43

I think yesterday with the heavy rain really helped in our area of the SE , we managed to get petrol with minimal queueing and there were several garages with fuel and minimal queues . The Tesco garage near my house , which has been chaotic all week with hour + queues also has fuel today with minimal queues.