Delivery driver in Plymouth shares frustrations over petrol queues
Across the country Britons have been rushing to the fuel pumps to top up their tanks as a HGV driver shortage has caused some petrol stations to close and shortages across the country.
One firm EG group who run 400 petrol stations have said they are limiting each customer to £30 max of fuel.
The company have set limits in an attempt to cope with growing demand for fuel.
Queues have caused traffic and driver delays on main roads across the UK.Queues in Dover have forced bus company Stagecoach South East to take to Twitter to warn people of the delays which could be faced.
They tweeted: “#Dover Due to motorists queuing for fuel, all 12/61/61A/90/92/92A are unable to serve Tescos at present.
“We will monitor the situation as the day goes on.
“Please use stops at Honeywood Rd.”
The company also warned about delays due to people queuing for petrol in Eastbourne.
Queues at a Tesco power station have caused chaos (Image: Getty) They tweeted: “We expect large delays today due to people queuing for petrol.
“Our 1xs and Loops will be diverting via Pembury Road to avoid the traffic for the time being.”
Motorists have been queuing all across the country for petrol due to fears of a mass shortage.
Man directs traffic at Sainsbury’s queue (Image: BBC) Warnings have been issued that the petrol disruption could last for up to 6 weeks.
Gerald Ronson, owner of 275 forecourts operated by Shell, BP and Texaco, has said: “It is going to take, most probably, six weeks for everything to get back to normality.
“There is going to be this inconvenience of sites that will be out of fuel.”
Queues at a Sainsburys petrol station (Image: BBC)
Queues waiting for petrol (Image: BBC) The delays which Stagecoach are facing is happening all across the country, including in Dover.
They tweeted: “#Dover #Sandwich Due to motorists queuing for fuel in Sandwich all 43 services from Canterbury into Sandwich and 80 services coming into Sandwich will run into Guildhall via the Ash Road.
“All 81 services in to Sandwich will run in via Moatsole and will not serve St.Barts Rd.”
Toby Ovens, managing director of Broughton Transport Solutions believes that the u-turn on vias is ‘unlikely to solve the HGV driver shortage’.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Mr Ovens was asked about the u-turn having an impact on the driver shortage and he said: ” I personally don’t think so.
” No, I think a lot of what we’re seeing at the minute is down to essentially the driver wages.
” Margins in haulage are very tight and the reality is the money isn’t there to pay the increased wages without substantial price increases to customers.”
Marco Digioia, the general secretary of UETR supported this claim as he said: ” I expect many drivers will not return to the UK even if the UK Government allows them to.
” While offering visas to drivers on the continent would be a welcome step, there are many other issues, such as working conditions, pay, and the costs of getting into and working in the UK.”
Man directs Sainsbury’s traffic (Image: BBC) A petrol station in Finchley as now joined the list of places to have run out of fuel.
Paul Brand of ITV tweeted an update as he said: ” Esso petrol station Finchley all out of fuel.
” Next Esso at Neasden also totally out.
” Shell garage next door has petrol but no diesel, with huge queues all along the dual carriageway just to get in.
” (We are not panic buying, just on empty trying to get to an appointment!)”
A petrol station in Stockport has been hit with fresh worries.
The petrol station has been told that it may be 9 or 10 days before a new delivery arrives.
This comes as many people have flocked to the petrol stations in panic to stock up on petrol.
Queue for petrol in Northwich (Image: Getty) The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), who represent 190,000 business all across the UK, have criticised the government for how long they had taken to relax visa rules for foreign workers.
Tony Danker, the director-general of the company, told BBC Breakfast: ” Hopefully it is going to happen and it is a huge relief.
” We’ve been calling for it for three months we could see this problem coming and more problems coming, and so it’s a shame the government needed queues at the pumps to move, but move I hope they have and it will help.
” It’s taken a bit of a crisis to force their hand, but I really hope the government follows through on what we’re hearing because that would provide some relief and get us started again.”
Man carries petrol containers in a petrol station in Bracknell (Image: PA) Arriva Milton Keynes have also advised of changes to their systems due to the queuing in the area.
The company took to Twitter to say: ” SERVICE UPDATE: Due to heavy traffic and tail backs at Tesco Petrol Station Kingston, Service 3 and Service 8 will be picking up and dropping off at Chippenham Drive bus stop on Tongwell Street both directions.”
Phil McCann, a BBC reporter who has been at a petrol station in Stockport this morning, is trending on Twitter.
The reporter’s name has been said to be a relevant fit to the current petrol crisis.
Adam Widdrington tweeted: ” One of my best mates, Phil McCann, is the No.1 trend in the UK this morning.
” I’ve been laughing about his name since 2003.What a morning!”.
