Support grows for A55 go-slow fuel protesters
Post categories: Buckley, Connah's Quay, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Flint, Flintshire, Holywell, Hot Topics, Mold, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Ruthin, Shotton, St Asaph
| 12:17 UK time, Thursday, 5 June 2008
The campaign group Fuel Protest 2008 North West UK and Wales is now up to 500+ members on the social networking site, Facebook, which suggests an endorsement of their plans to bring traffic to a halt on the A55 next month.
The Evening Leader explains more about the group - which intends to drive to the Welsh Assembly offices in Colwyn Bay on July 4. Meanwhile, http://rhuthun.blogspot.com is keeping a running total on fuel prices at the pumps at Ruthin, Denbigh, Rhyl, Mold, and Wrexham.
Whether the protest will help their campaign remains to be seen - not least because we're used to slow traffic on the road any way [roadworks planned] - but judging by the comments on Facebook there is support:
"If we stand together then something will have to be done."
- Daniel Rowlands [Wales]
Good luck with it, i think you have virtually everyones support!
- Chris Cottrill [West Midlands]
However, Carl Sargeant, Alyn and Deeside AM, points out in the Leader that a march on the Assembly might not help: "...the Welsh Assembly has no tax-raising powers. This is a global issue caused by the rising price of oil..."
Tag: Fuel
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The world is running out of oil and this will occur sooner than later. The days of cheep oil are over, it’s time to conserve the oil that is left and not to worry over the extra pennies we all have to pay. The cost with in a few years will be far greater than fiscal pain.
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Can someone explain why other road users should be targeted by these disgruntled hauliers? The private car driver already massively susidises the cost of carriageway repairs and safety measures their 44 tonne juggernauts impose - the paltry road tax they pay goes nowhere near. If they were obliged to pay their way, like railway transport has to, then they really would be faced with financial calamity. Increasing fuel duty is a reasonable way of adopting a "user pays" principle that is surely the only way of maintaining the present transport infrastructure. So, instead of grandstanding on July 4th, perhaps a look into their proverbial navels pondering the alternatives might be in order. In the interim, why not think harder about prudent measures they could make themselves such as back-hauling, part load elimination, speed reduction, better aerodynamics, ECO 4 engines and even, god forbid, down-sizing their BHP requirements ?
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I have another suggestion for lorry and van drivers ... try another line of work. There's plenty of other unskilled jobs out there, and they'd get a bit more exercise.
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How can you possibly say that????? how do you think the produce you buy gets into shops? are you oblivious to the real world. I suggest you think a little deeper about your brash comments before insulting thousands of people who work hard to keep your local supermarket shelves filled... Re the price of fuel, it is ridiculously high in comparison to other countries ontop of our ever increasing road tax, I agree with the protest, if we dont do anything to express our annoyance where will it end? I also agree with a previous post suggesting more eco friendly cars, preferably at a price the average family can afford
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