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Preparing for action...
Page 7
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OPERATORS ARE THREATENING to demonstrate outside oil refineries and to stage go-slow protests on motorways over rising fuel costs — but VOSA promises it will not remove licences from operators who join the action.
However, police say they will take "firm action" against any go-slow action.
As CM went to press, at least two go-slow protests were being organised, on the M4 and the M25, both for Friday Although organisers stress the protests will be legal, there are rumours that Dover Port will be blockaded.
But there appears to be little co-ordination between the various groups determined to protest against the government's failure to keep fuel prices down. Many hauliers have been ringing CM wanting to find out how to get involved and they were confused over who was organising the protests.
Alan Greene, boss of Llanelli-based M&M Greene Services, says he was surprised by the number of people who turned up at a meeting to discuss protest tactics. He says everyone voted for a go-slow protest on the M4, starting in Wales at 6am on Friday.
-We were packed in like sardines," Greene reports."There were hauliers, coach operators, taxi drivers and the general public." However, he admits that there has been little communication with other protesters planning action across the UK. "I wish there was and then we would have a result immediately," he adds.
Andrew Spence for the Fuel Lobby, widely seen as the coordinator of the protests, says oil refineries in the North-East will be targeted this week but he stresses protests will be "legal and peaceful". He does not know what action would be taking place elsewhere.
A VOSA spokeswoman says:"VOSA will not be keep ing records of, nor taking any action concerning, those operators involved in the protests at oil refineries unless they are contravening the regulations VOSA enforces."
But Brynle Williams, Conservative member of the Welsh Assembly and the man behind the stand-off at the Startlow refinery in Cheshire five years ago, says North Wales police have warned him that go-slow protesters will be arrested if they are "deemed an obstruction".
He adds: "I will be doing what I can, politically, behind the scenes. We want an 11.5% decrease in the price of fuel. Oil companies have a role to play in this — the government is encouraging them by not capping the tax."
The FreightTransport Association says it will not support any blockades or go-slows. A spokesman says: "The transport industry, UK industry at large and the motorist are all concerned about the price of oil and the ultra high level of UK fuel duty. However, inhibiting the supply of oil is not the answer."
A spokeswoman for the Association of Chief Police Officers says there is an "awful lot of legislation" that police can use to combat goslows. She adds:"Blocking the highway or preventing companies going about their business is unlawful... therefore the police will take firm action as necessary."
And a spokeswoman for Dover Port says: "We have brought our concerns to Kent police. We would be very concerned if any action were to materialise but there's nothing we can do to prevent such action."