Would you support new fuel protests? (From Western Telegraph)

Would you support new fuel protests?

11:21am Thursday 15th November 2007 in

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Hauliers are in militant mood with a hint of direct action similar to the 2001 Pembrokeshire fuel blockades as the upward surge in petrol and diesel prices shows no sign of abating.

Last week there was a noticeable change in the appearance of many fuel forecourts in Pembrokeshire - the price display for petrol had broken through the £1/litre barrier.

According to the latest data from industry researcher, Catalist, the average price of a litre of unleaded petrol is now 100.08p. Diesel had already passed the £1 mark.

The price rise has prompted warnings of a return to the scenes of 2000 when hauliers blockaded oil refineries in Pembrokeshire and wider protests nearly brought the country to a standstill.

Haulier Mark Greene, who led that protest, admitted there was a growing tide of anger resulting from the recent increases.

Meanwhile, Stephen Phillips, a partner in the Croesgoch haulage firm, M and S Transport, said there was a limit to how much of the rises could be passed onto customers.

A rise of 1p/litre will add £400 to the annual running costs of a large lorry. And 10-15% of the cost of food on supermarket shelves represents the cost of getting it there so rises are likely.

And fuel price increases will inevitably lead to smaller profits for firms like M and S Transport, said Stephen Phillips.

Many contracts, he explained, were bid for a year in advance and hauliers were locked into prices agreed before fuel rises had come into effect.

"My business tends to operate on spot rates but companies who transport steel for instance will have agreed prices months in advance,'' said Mr Phillips.

The world price of oil is not the only reason for the price hikes. Duty on petrol and diesel increased by 2p a litre last month.

So, would you support another round of fuel protests?

Leave your views in the comment box below.