Can anyone not get to work today due to fuel?

Sunshinesandice · 2021-09-27T07:27:33+00:00

Just wondering really, I wfh but go into the office on Wednesdays, and I need fuel before Wednesday and haven’t been able to find a single one around that I can fill up on. Just wondering what other people’s circumstances are surrounding this?

marieantoinehairnet · 27/09/2021 11:54

Same, but no mention of it at my work, like as if it's not even happening... you'd think employers would communicate a bit of a plan for their staff, but as the government has t a clue what it's doing, how the hell can anyone else?

Buggerthebotox · 27/09/2021 12:35

Me. I've a 40-mile round trip. I've enough petrol to get to office, but not back home. I can wfh so not a massive issue.

Wonder how long it'll last?

gogohm · 27/09/2021 15:35

Our local petrol station refilled overnight Saturday night so not an issue here. There is no fuel shortage at the refineries so the problem is short term

updownroundandround · 28/09/2021 09:07

I'm not really understanding the whole 'I can't get to work because I've no petrol' excuse.

I understand that due to public transport times/routes etc that some people may be arriving a bit late etc, but there's really no reason why people should be simply not going into work simply because they can't use their car for transport.

FabulouslyFab · 28/09/2021 09:14

@updownroundandround

I'm not really understanding the whole 'I can't get to work because I've no petrol' excuse.

I understand that due to public transport times/routes etc that some people may be arriving a bit late etc, but there's really no reason why people should be simply not going into work simply because they can't use their car for transport.

Lols - my village only has a bus to town on Tuesdays, then it would be a train and three more buses to get to the office. At least a couple of hours travel on a Tuesday due to timings and the office is only 25 miles away! Rural Cumbria. Luckily there’s no fuel shortage here though 😁

Mrgrinch · 28/09/2021 09:15

To be honest I think that's a pretty lame excuse to stay off work.

There are plenty of stations with fuel, you just have to queue. Otherwise find another way.

Shurl · 28/09/2021 09:17

@marieantoinehairnet

Same, but no mention of it at my work, like as if it's not even happening... you'd think employers would communicate a bit of a plan for their staff, but as the government has t a clue what it's doing, how the hell can anyone else?

My work aren't mentioning it either, but there doesn't seem to be much of a shortage here either (West mids). Where is it that people can't get fuel? Is it another London problem that people assume is national?

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 28/09/2021 09:19

But why should employers communicate a plan to their staff?? Presumably the staff are all adults, and aren't the employers in the same situation?

SpringRainbow · 28/09/2021 09:19

Everything to seems to be completely back to normal where I am.

I walked past two petrol stations on my way to drop the kids off this morning.

No drama, no queues, people getting petrol as normal.

No more posts in the local Facebook groups asking about petrol.

It really is like Friday - Sunday never happened where I am.

It’s really surreal.

talkalarm · 28/09/2021 09:21

I'm not trying to cause panic because I really think it will be fine in a couple of days but I can only assume some of these replies come from people in the city.

We have two petrol stations within 10 miles, both currently empty. If I wanted to get public transport to work it would involve a 2 mile walk to the bus stop for a bus that comes every hour, a 30 min bus ride to the small train station, 4 changes on the trains (one through a major city around 1 hour in the wrong direction) another bus at the local station and then half mile walk at the other end

My drive to work takes about 30 mins.

Orangejuicemarathoner · 28/09/2021 09:21

me- and I normally get the bus, but the bus service has been massively disrupted. Several staff could not get in by bus yesterday, and are at home today

TakeYourFinalPosition · 28/09/2021 09:30

@Shurl It’s been all over the news that Birmingham is out of fuel, and I’m in Warwickshire and all our petrol stations in my town were closed yesterday, I think one supermarket had a delivery at 7am but it was gone by 8:30.

I haven’t been to Brum so I don’t know if they are actually out of fuel, but it’s definitely been covered on the news and it seems to be all over Facebook.

Florencenotflo · 28/09/2021 09:31

It's pretty bad here (South East - Kent area). Most stations are shut, they get a delivery, queues are massive then they close when they run out.

Lots of people on local Facebook groups this morning desperate because they left it over the weekend thinking it would all blow over.

A friend run out of fuel on the way to one that apparently had fuel. Her Dad has had to tow her home and he's now out trying to find somewhere that will let him fill up Jerry cans (if they have fuel).

Shurl · 28/09/2021 09:33

[quote TakeYourFinalPosition]@Shurl It’s been all over the news that Birmingham is out of fuel, and I’m in Warwickshire and all our petrol stations in my town were closed yesterday, I think one supermarket had a delivery at 7am but it was gone by 8:30.

I haven’t been to Brum so I don’t know if they are actually out of fuel, but it’s definitely been covered on the news and it seems to be all over Facebook.[/quote]
That's so strange how localised it is. I'm also Warwickshire and have seen busy petrol stations, but none closed in my town, or my DP's.

Doglicks · 28/09/2021 09:39

I own a scaffolding company. We can't get our lorries filled, therefore there is no work for the 15 scaffs we employ. Even my own elderly mother was queuing for petrol needlessly on Sunday, made me very cross.

Barkingdog · 28/09/2021 09:41

@updownroundandround

I'm not really understanding the whole 'I can't get to work because I've no petrol' excuse.

I understand that due to public transport times/routes etc that some people may be arriving a bit late etc, but there's really no reason why people should be simply not going into work simply because they can't use their car for transport.

@updownroundandround You are obviously fortunate enough to live in an area well served by public transport. Many of us live in places with very limited options.

Lyricallie · 28/09/2021 10:51

So strange how localised it is. I'm in the Highlands and no issue here at all. I was doing a long drive so had to fill up. There wasn't even a queue or at any of the ones I drove by.

marieantoinehairnet · 28/09/2021 10:56

Ever tried getting two kids to two different schools in two directions, then get yourself to a station, none of which are less than 4 miles from home. with a disability, twice a day.

There is no fuel here, hasn't been since Thursday, and every time a tanker comes in some moron posts it on social media perpetuating the problem.

VanGoghsDog · 28/09/2021 11:02

@updownroundandround

I'm not really understanding the whole 'I can't get to work because I've no petrol' excuse.

I understand that due to public transport times/routes etc that some people may be arriving a bit late etc, but there's really no reason why people should be simply not going into work simply because they can't use their car for transport.

Really? You really don't understand that some people live rurally with no public transport at all and that taxis are not a viable option?

Luckily I wfh now. But going into the office meant driving eight miles to the train station. Along roads you cannot cycle on, and no other route available. I wouldn't be able to cycle with all my stuff anyway. I only have a rickety old bike.

No busses from my village to the station, well, to be fair, some but only something like three a day and they take an hour.

I suppose I could get the first bus and get a train at eleven, be in the office about twelve thirty and have to turn around and go back because the last bus from the station is around four.

I can get a taxi to the station but this costs £30 and I gather from local Facebook pages that they are currently unreliable because, guess what, they can't get fuel either!

RandomMess · 28/09/2021 11:03

It seems to be very different depending on where you live.

I'd like to think if you can WFH and you are affected by the supply issue of you let your management know they would allow you to WFH rather than do ridiculous journeys to the office.

I'm fortunate where I live very few issues getting fuel now and as a last resort I could walk to the office in an hour if I didn't want to catch the direct bus from the end of my road or cycle in.

I'm dismayed at the number of posters that don't realise that lots of people live in urban areas with rubbish public transport or rural where there is often 0 public transport.

CoffeeRunner · 28/09/2021 11:04

@updownroundandround

I'm not really understanding the whole 'I can't get to work because I've no petrol' excuse.

I understand that due to public transport times/routes etc that some people may be arriving a bit late etc, but there's really no reason why people should be simply not going into work simply because they can't use their car for transport.

Some of us live rurally. No bus service, no train service.

Lots of people literally cannot get to work without their cars - or having a spare £80 for the round trip in a taxi (which also needs fuel).

EmmaGrundyForPM · 28/09/2021 11:04

There is no fuel in our 3 nearest petrol stations. One had petrol yesterday but no diesel.

Luckily I wfh but ds works 12 miles away. To get there by public transport would involve a bus to our nearest town (10 miles away in the opposite direction to work). The first bus is at 7.30 and takes 45 minutes as it goes through lots of villages. Arrives in city at 8.15, then needs to cross town to pick up another bus to go to town near his work. Then needs to walk 2 miles to his place of work along a 60mph road with no footpath. He would be lucky to arrive before 10am when he is supposed to start work at 8.30.

VanGoghsDog · 28/09/2021 11:07

It's not a "London problem", no. I live in the Midlands and it's been a nightmare here. Not for me, to be fair, I'm very lucky, I wfh and don't have kids so no need to drive be anywhere right now. Have shops in the village that cover most things, though I assume of this goes on their supplies will be disrupted as well.

KimDeals · 28/09/2021 11:08

Me! I was supposed to do a round trip to head officer today (2.5 hours each way) snd cancelled out of fear of running out of diesel!

spottysocky · 28/09/2021 12:14

I'm wondering if I'll run out before the end of the week I live rurally. There is no public transport here really, I'd have to walk to a bus stop miles away and we don't have pavements so not really and option with young dc, the buses here certainly do not go to places we need to get to and anywhere in a taxi is extortionate.

Going to just have to wait and see really. Don't get paid if I'm not in work and dc have to go to school which is a 24 mile round trip every day so I am very worried.