Fuel protesters return to refineries for new demos
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• by Miles Brignall
Fuel protesters are warning the Government to expect a series of demonstrations in the run up to the spring general election.
Last week oil refineries across the UK were hit by the most significant protests since last autumn's action brought the country to a standstill.
Spurred on by media reports that pump prices had failed to fall in line with a heavy reduction in the price of crude oil, farmers' and hauliers' groups mounted a series of blockades, although there were few cases of protesters stopping tankers leaving depots.
There were demonstrations at: • The Manchester Fuels terminal at Trafford Park, About 30 demonstrators stayed for three hours: police said fuel deliveries were not affected.
• The Shell depot at Jarrow, South Tyneside.
• The Total fuel distribution depot in Cross Green, Leeds.
si The Esso terminal at Fawley in Hampshire.
• Avonmouth docks, where up to 30 hauliers gathered at the start of a 24-hour protest.
• The two oil refineries at Pembroke Dock in south-west Wales, where approximately 20 trucks gathered.
John Pratt, a leader of Farmers for Action at Pembroke Dock, said they were not conducting a blockade but wanted to warn the Government that a 2p/lit cut in the price of fuel is simply not enough.
"It is a token picket," he explained. "We are not aimng to stop any tankers coming out at ail. This was just to send the message to the government and the oil companies that we are still around. When we do decide to do something, it will be something completely different. The element of surprise was what caught them out in the original protest."