FIVE lorries, five cars and two motor bikes staged a protest against the price of fuel today.
The vehicles, which were followed by police, left Warrington Lymm Services on the M56 at 9am this morning to head towards Mancunian Way and Regent Road near Manchester city centre.
Motorist and organiser of the demonstration Duncan Burrow, who is from the lobbying group BritainsRevolting, said: "We want the Government to start looking at the situation properly and do something about it. The amount we pay for fuel at the moment is ridiculous.
"We want the duty on fuel to be dropped by around 25p because at the moment we are paying about 25p to 30p more than the rest of Europe.
"As a motorist I am spending in the region of £30 a week more in fuel than just over a year ago."
Despite the low turnout Mr Burrow, a computer engineer who lives in Crewe, said the fuel protest "can make a difference".
He said: "It shows that we are not happy about what is going on and also the public will come out and support us."
Mr Burrow organised the demonstration by emailing haulage companies.
Ian Hill, a driver with Andrew Porter Ltd based in Adlington, Chorley, also joined the protest.
He said: "We had eight to ten drivers who said they would come and there is three of us here. The other week there were loads of us here.
"If we have a proper turnout it will make a difference.
"I run a car myself and you just can't afford to do stuff like you used to.
"They (managers and owners of the company) talk to the customers and as soon as you mention putting the price up they will go somewhere else."
Speaking about the morale amongst hauliers and drivers Mr Hill, who has been a driver for 17 years with Andrew Porter Ltd, said: "It is rubbish. It's just horrible."
The fuel protest is one of three separate demonstrations which are due to take place today across the North West and North Wales.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Motorists travelling to Manchester Airport should especially give themselves extra time for their journeys.
"Traffic police will close slip roads and other roads as the convoy progresses to minimise congestion."
Chief Inspector Haydn Roberts of Greater Manchester Police's Traffic Network Section said: "We would advise motorists to give themselves extra time for their journeys if they are using the roads in these two areas.
"A traffic police operation will take place to ensure that congestion is minimised."
By 10am six vans and four cars had joined a second protest forming at Burtonwood Services on the M62.
Gwil Ritchie, 38, organiser of the protest and a member of the Fuel Protest 2008 North West and Wales group, said the weather had contributed to a lower than expected turnout today.
The owner of GRS Equine, a company based in Rhyl, North Wales, that transports horses, he said: "We had around 150 vehicles last time including motorbikes, cars and vans. Last time we started at Chester Services and drove to Colwyn Bay.
"I think the weather has got a lot to do with it, though I could be wrong.
"Obviously I am disappointed. There was going to be an awful lot who would be here to support it.
"We've just run today off the back of the one we did two weeks ago on Facebook."
Mr Ritchie said he had seen his costs go up by 35% for fuel for his business costing him thousands of pounds.
He said: "You can't put 35% on top of your prices.
"People aren't moving round as much with the horses. People aren't going to as many shows. The cost of everything has gone up.
"Where ever you go people are fully behind these protests but people need to get out there and support it."
A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police said: "Police have been made aware of it (the protest). It may cause disruption to other road users. Motorists should be aware of this and consider an alternative route."
The spokeswoman said the protest planned to travel along the M62 northbound, then southbound on the M6 to join the M56 westbound and would stop at Hapsford Services.
The convoy would then take the A5117, then the M53 then the A55 into North Wales.
The protest from Burtonwood Services will stop at the cattle market in St Asaph, North Wales.
What do you think? Have your say.
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 24 and replies | View All
ace, manchester (19/07/2008 at 11:19)
MC Spanner (19/07/2008 at 11:39)
Small? Six Trucks is not a protest. You get more hold ups at a set of traffic lights.
The country is broke and until somebody suggests a way of covering the costs of a drop of duty, i.e. not spending £80m on Muslim Theologians or £12bn on ID Cards, then it is nothing more than obstruction and these protesters should have their vehicle seized.
The government is suffering from falling revenues and has no control over its spending. Protesting will not change the fact that Labour has wrecked the economy and is powerless to do anything about it.
If you want to protest, campaign to vote them out in 2010 and drive them into oblivion. They wrecked the country in the 1970s and the have done it again. They should never be allowed to do it again
WhiteWolf01, Northumberland (19/07/2008 at 11:44)
As for their being a protest that is highly reasonable, this Government and its predecessors have cost motorists a fortune in unecessary taxation and have never once invested any of the money they have taken from the motorist into finding alternative measures.
But this government takes the biscuit, it is greedy, inconsiderate, uncaring, anti democratic and totally lacking in responsibility
It has no idea how to lead this this country and no future policies in place to avert a major fuel crisis should there be one.
Hopeless inadequate and a failure.
chris.city, Manchester (19/07/2008 at 11:48)
mancmanomyst, Wythenshawe (19/07/2008 at 12:48)
"We should have been moving away from an oil based economy 25 years ago."
Spot on mate - we have allowed this problem to exist by lining the pockets of oil companies and not investing in alternative fuels when we knew that oil was unsustainable
ace
"We had enough oil and gas comming out of the north sea to last britain generations.but what did the politicians do? sell it and now we have to buy these resources at inflated prices because our politicians dont think ahead"
You will be suprised but I completely agree. As soon as Thatcher heard of the black gold in the North Sea she flogged it cheap to europe and now the oil that's left is much more expensive to access.
Politicians only tend to think about today instead of tomorrow which is why we should congratulate Mr Leese for planning for the future congestion we apparently don't yet have!
Laura Norder, Didsbury (19/07/2008 at 12:49)
So, why aren't all the rest of the moaners from this message board out there doing their bit? All wee and wind, you lot.
Laughable.
bluedefence (19/07/2008 at 13:26)
shayla (19/07/2008 at 13:54)
Thanks to the people who did go though, I just hope it makes the government stand up and take notice.
THIS COUNTRY IS A DISGRACE UNDER LABOUR AND IT'S MONEY GRABBING ATTITUDE.
It seems if you have anything left at all to live on, they want it!
Roll on election time. Just hope the country isn't bankrupt by then.
HOW MUCH WORSE CAN IT GET?
Cllr Shelmerdine. Hulme. (19/07/2008 at 14:52)
looking at the police cars, they had four cops in them, where they could be fighting crime else where, disgraceful.
Sven's pants (19/07/2008 at 14:59)
5...6...7...8
rammylad, ramsbottom (19/07/2008 at 15:34)
Chilli tongue, Manchester (19/07/2008 at 15:36)
Steps?
rammylad, ramsbottom (19/07/2008 at 15:39)
So, why aren't all the rest of the moaners from this message board out there doing their bit? All wee and wind, you lot.
Laughable.
Laura Norder, Didsbury
Keep it up Laura, you are doing your rep a lot of good. Not a pleasant word comes from your mouth and on any decent forum / message board you would have been long banned for you personal attacks. Well done for the lack of substance in your reply again.
Whilst I find it difficult to accept the 20% rise in fuel we have seen in the last 3-4 months, I am pleased to see that 4x4 drivers who never leave the tarmac are now asking themselves why they bought such gaz guzzlers, so perhaps the fuel price is a price worth paying. i.e. why does channel m need a 4x4 when a small diesel beford van would be better. Oh of course image, its all about the image. Any one ever seen the Channel M 4x4 off road?
Andy, Wythenshawe (19/07/2008 at 15:54)
Quasimodo's Bodydouble, Paris (19/07/2008 at 17:28)
A Saturday in the north?
Who is concerned with us peasants up here?
The people who make up the rules all live in London.
That is where a concerted effort should be aimed in bringing that place to a halt during the week,along with the M25.
The Tories, with Beeching, closed down numerous rail lines, leaving huge swathes of the country isolated.
The Tories, with Thatcher, used the revenues from the North sea to crush the miners and bring the working class into line.
The money that she used for this vindictive pursuit should have been used to provide a world class infrastructure of both road and rail,enabling our industries to be more competitive.
Rather than use this one off golden egg, for the long term benefit of the nation, she chose to pursue her evil crusade.
As a result of her vile actions we no longer have a viable coal industry, of which one of the by-products was Towns gas, which we all used for our domestic heating and cooking requirements.
All the plant for the production of this vital commodity was dismantled and the sites sold off.
What cost now to restore these facilities?
People have very short memories indeed.
In truth, there is not a lot left for Lord Snooty to damage.
His predecessors saw to that.
mancmanomyst, Wythenshawe (19/07/2008 at 18:45)
One of the best posts i've seen in a long time mate. People have short memories!
Maybe we've all got it wrong about democracy - maybe we need a dictatorship....no wait, isn't that what we've got
rammylad
"I am pleased to see that 4x4 drivers who never leave the tarmac are now asking themselves why they bought such gaz guzzlers, so perhaps the fuel price is a price worth paying."
So true - higher prices mean we all having to think more about the choices we make. Maybe we will see an end to the throw-away society.
MC Spanner (19/07/2008 at 21:34)
The Country was potless long before Thatcher came to power.
Britains highest ever inflation rate was 26.9% in 1975 under Harold Wilson. It never got below 7%
Britain only had to be bailed out once by the IMF. Under a Labour Government.
The last time that Britain had a Winter/Summer of discontent was 1979. Under a Labour government.
The reason that Britain had to sell its Oil was to pay off debt created under...you know the score.
Britain was not some Oasis of content and wealth before Mrs Thatcher took over. If it had been so good why did it take a generation for people to trust Labour to come back to power.
To listen to you lot you would think Britain was a paradise that controlled the world, was totally self sufficient and every citizen lived happily in a nice semi in crime free streets. Oh the Empire wasn't it wonderful but we started to break that up in 1948...under a Labour Governement.
Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (19/07/2008 at 21:40)
(2) "what did the politicians do? sell it and now we have to buy these resources at inflated prices" ...yes the politicians sold the North Sea Gas .. but what incentive is there for politicians to look at the long term when they might not be in power.
Labour are raking up a huge debt at the moment knowing they will not have to be the ones to pay it off (as they are now the "fag end" of a Government).
(3) People have a go at Thatcher - but thanks to her we are still sat on a few hundred years worth of coal reserves! even though the oil is going.
(4) We would all be millionaires with the benefit of hindsight/foresight. Don't fall into the trap of saying after the event the politicians should have done this that etc. Politicians are no better than most of us - and many are far worse!!!
bluedefence (20/07/2008 at 10:49)
ace, manchester (20/07/2008 at 16:09)
Kalamity Karney [AKA Scrotnig], Gorton (21/07/2008 at 10:13)
Councillor Allheart, in a black cab (21/07/2008 at 11:31)
Labour has had its bite at the cherry and, I'm afraid to point out to you, has bu77ered things up. You will be out of power next time and, I hope and suspect, for ever.
I hope and pray for an extreme right wing government to come in and resolve our problems.
alvinlwh (21/07/2008 at 11:59)
ace, manchester (21/07/2008 at 19:09)
I think your right? the voting sheep strike again and knackers yet another generation up.