PROTEST: WALES
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• Welsh hauliers are ready to take to the roads with demonstrations against fuel duty increases—but only if the Road Haulage and Freight Transport Associations and Trans-Action will co-ordinate a national day of action.
Last Friday (26 February) around BO local hauliers attended a meeting near Cross Hands, Dyfed, to discuss the problems faced by the industry and their reaction to Wednesday's march.
Although not billed as a Road Haulage Association meeting, it was chaired by West Wales RHA chairman Martin Hall, who strongly opposed the blockading of roads to get the message across. But he repeatedly told the assembled hauliers that he favours a national one-day park-up.
Among the hauliers who spoke was Steve Davies of Llanfryoach haulier Mansel Davies, who described how his firm has lost 25% of its export business to Dutch and other European hauliers. "And it's only going to get worse if the Government persists with this policy," he added.
During an often chaotic meeting, Trans-Action's Frank Steers was verbally attacked for not getting together with the RHA and FTA, despite his protests that the organisation had been started because it was felt the trade organisations were not getting the message across.
Another speaker was Martin Edge, the Shropshire haulier and protester whose 01V11 company went to the wall two weeks ago. Most hauliers present agreed their companies would be next if the Government continues with its fuel escalator policy.
Before the hauliers dispersed, well after midnight, they agreed to meet again at a date to be arranged.