admin
|
Angry lorry drivers bring traffic chaos to London roadsHundreds of lorry drivers caused traffic chaos today as they descended on London in the largest ever protest over fuel duty.
Around 300 lorries containing truckers angry at soaring fuel prices that have seen diesel prices rocket beyond 120p-a-litre converged on the capital.
They are demanding a government rebate to protect their struggling industry and allow them to compete with European hauliers as prices continue to rocket.
Business Secretary John Hutton today gave the strongest hint yet that the planned 2p rise in fuel duty could be further postponed this autumn in a bid to mollify the hauliers.
Blockade: Lorry drivers parked up on the A40 wave to passing motorists as they protest at fuel price increases
He said the Chancellor would look at a freeze in the pre-Budget report, expected in November.
'This is a matter for the Chancellor to consider, as I'm sure he will later in the year. We want to make sure that hauliers in the UK have a fair deal,' he said.
A convoy of 90 trucks left Medway in Kent to head towards central London along the M2 at 7.30am as others blocked roads in Bridgend in Wales and in Scotland.
Escorted by police motorcycles, the line of traffic made its to central London, where truckers headed to Marble Arch for a rally.
More lorries joined en route after driving down the M1 from Lincolnshire and other parts of the country.
Motorists were warned to expect massive delays with HGVs driving through London to meet at the A40 flyover near Paddington.
The London-bound A40 was shut for five hours from 10am as the demonstrators parked up.
With their horns blaring and carrying placards, the hauliers lined up along the closed road which leads to the heart of the capital.
Jose Girvan, 36, from Ruislip, Middlesex, a driver with transport services company KJS based at Iver, Buckinghamshire, was the first to arrive.
'Prices are just getting higher and higher and higher. The Government has got to cut the duty on diesel, they really must do something,' Mr Girvan said.
'I'm a family man, I have a mortgage. My job is not as secure as it was.'
Robert Lavender, 40, also from Ruislip, also drove a KJS lorry to the demonstration.
He said: 'The prices at the moment are ridiculous. Our lorries only do about six to eight miles to the gallon and our fleet of five trucks is costing us about £3,000 a week just on fuel
|
