Well do it again, say fuel protesters (From Western Telegraph)

Well do it again, say fuel protesters

The Pembrokeshire oil refinery blockades which brought the country to a near standstill a year ago to this day could be repeated if the Chancellor increases diesel duty in his autumn statement.

On the anniversary of the week when the countys petrol stations ran dry, hauliers say they will return if their tax burden rises in November.

Mike Greene, a central figure in the West Wales Independent Hauliers protest at the Texaco Refinery, says lorry drivers are prepared to bring the country to its knees once more.

It isnt a matter of if we will be there again, but if Gordon Brown announces duty increases in the autumn.

This time we will be there until the bitter end," he warns.

Last year he spoke of an industry on the brink of collapse. Two months after this warning, a leading Pembrokeshire haulage business - David Saunders Transport Ltd - became one of the first casualties.

The price of fuel had held steady since the blockades. But, says Mike Greene: It is slowly starting to creep up again.

What we achieved last year was 110%, nothing like it had happened before. But the duty on fuel is still too high and the industry just cant sustain any further rises."

Lorries crossing to Southern Ireland from Pembroke Dock and Fishguard ferry ports have been filling up with diesel averaging 35p a litre - half the cost of British fuel.

I have got lorries running backwards and forwards to Ireland every day and they are coming back with their tanks full," said Mike Greene. It is widely predicted that Gordon Brown could add up to five pence a litre to fuel, an increase which Mike Greene says the industry could not absorb.

Flashback to September 2000 when the lorry protesters rolled into Pembroke. PICTURE: Western Telegraph