Hauliers rally round to fight fuel duty increase by Miles
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Brignall, Rob Willock and David Craik • French-style blockades can no longer be ruled out, following the Government's decision to ignore Monday's peaceful demo by more than 200 truckers who want to be exempted from fuel duty increases.
Responding to British hauliers' biggest ever demonstration against the fuel duty escalator on 8 June in London and Birmingham, the Department of Transport merely issued a short statement defending Government policy, adding: "There is considerable scope for road hauliers to improve their fuel efficiency."
Trans-Action has promised to continue its campaign of direct action and warns that blockades will now be considered. Furious Trans-Action chairman Peter Knight of Kent's Les Knight Transport says: "The Government's reaction is unre alistic and shows that the Department does not understand road haulage issues and problems."
He warns that this attitude will only reinforce Trans-Action memberships' determination.
Knight was part of a convoy of up to 160 trucks which converged on the capital, congregating on Park Lane. Six trucks later broke off to drive around Parliament Square.
Buoyed up by the considerable media coverage given to the day's proceedings, coorganiser Ron Wood of RW Haulage Services based in Sheerness, Kent, says: "We did what we set out to do, filling the whole of one side of Park Lane in a legal and peaceful way."
Members of the public walking down Park Lane took a keen interest in the demo.
One passer-by told CM: "The Government doesn't support the British haulage industry in the way foreign governments help theirs. These guys have a right to protest."
In the Midlands, more than 60 TransAction trucks brought the M6 to a standstill, causing tailbacks of up to 15 miles by driving slowly in the inner and middle lanes. Later, 100 trucks drove through Birmingham.
Another 50 wagons drove through Coven owner-driver Jim Jordan: "The public were clapping and giving us the thumbs up." after death crash Midlands lads have done this Gloucestershire.
lic is more aware of the issues closed for nearly 12 flours.
again this week to discuss how protests. best to step up their campaign.