Fuel activists caused delays to several motorways today in coordinated demonstrations against soaring petrol and diesel prices, as one protester risked six points and a £200 fine by filming a 30mph ‘go slow’ on his phone.
Richard Dite, 44, who was driving a blue van, held his phone above the steering wheel while driving along the M4 as the protests this morning focused on the stretch of motorway between Bristol and South Wales.
It comes as rolling roadblocks that brought parts of the M4 to a standstill as protesters target motorways in a demonstration over high fuel prices – with up to 12 hours of traffic jams possible according to some reports.
Mr Dite, who also sounded a musical horn from his vehicle which played the Pirates of the Caribbean theme tune, was among about half a dozen vehicles in the procession and shouted ‘give us our country back’ while being filmed by a Wales Online reporter in the car with him – but he also admitted it was ‘not a very good turnout’.
The mobile welder from Maesteg in Bridgend County Borough drives 30 miles to Cardiff for work each day, and said the cost of this is now ‘upwards of £300’ a week, having been around ‘£125 before the price increases. Mr Dite added: ‘I am on the verge of putting my gear in the shed. I would be better off on the dole. That’s not me. I am a worker. Something’s got to happen.’
Fuel duty and VAT currently make up 85p of the current average £1.91 for a litre of unleaded petrol according to the RAC – with the recent wave of price hikes fuelled by global oil supply issues after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Campaigners today focused on the M4 between Bristol and South Wales, including the Prince of Wales Severn bridge crossing, as part of action calling for a cut in fuel duty.
Where protesters are targeting motorways in fuel demonstrations
- M4 eastbound J23 – J22, Prince of Wales Bridge closed
- M4 westbound J22 – J23 Prince of Wales Bridge, 5 miles of slow-moving traffic
- M54 westbound J3 – J5, 20-minute delays and 8 miles of slow-moving traffic
- A12 southbound, between A120 and B1389 near Colchester – 55-minute delays and 10 miles of slow-moving traffic
The protests are understood to have been organised via social media under the banner Fuel Price Stand Against Tax. Among those gathering at Magor services, near Caldicot, was Vicky Stamper, 41.
The former HGV driver, from Cwmbran, said she and her partner Darren had to leave jobs in Bristol because they could not afford the fuel any longer.
She said: ‘We had to leave those jobs because it was costing us £380 a week just to get to and from work. I then lost a job two weeks ago because the company couldn’t afford to put fuel in that many lorries so last in, first out.’
She said the situation has taken an emotional toll on her and her family.
Talking about the disruption the protest will cause to drivers, Ms Stamper added: ‘We’re doing this for us and for them. If they want to have a moan, they should join us instead.’
Asked what she would ask Prime Minister Boris Johnson to do, she said: ‘Resign.’
Martin Crowley, 48, from Cardiff, said he is a self-employed exotic animal courier and fuel prices are damaging his livelihood.
‘Fuel cost me £280 over two days last week. It’s unbelievable,’ he said. ‘You can hardly make a living anymore.’
In Wales, protest organisers were told by police before leaving they could not stop and must drive no slower than 30mph. Some protesters said they intend to meet in the middle and block the motorway.
Daily Mail UK
