We've had our fill of petrol price rises

From the Echo, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.

FED-up motorists and hauliers have warned they may turn militant to fight the increase in fuel tax.

The Government's decision to add a further 1.28p of duty onto a litre of petrol has sparked new outrage from drivers. The tax increase wipes out a recent drop in the price of petrol.

Now some are warning that Britain could see a repeat of the fuel protests that nearly brought the country to a halt in September 2000.

Poole taxi driver Mike Gale, a spokesman for independent drivers, said people were fed up with being seen as a "cash cow".

"The Government have to realise that they can't keep bleeding the ordinary man dry and if they don't then people will revolt," he said.

"It worked last time and I can definitely see it happening again. I'm not a politician and I don't know what the answer is but I know you can't keep forcing people to pay out money they don't have."

Phill Bascombe, who runs a haulage company in Wimborne, agreed the fuel increase would be a disaster for transport businesses.

"We use 10,000 litres of fuel a month so you can work out from that how hard this rise will hit us," he said.

"I can't see what justification they've got for this increase. They're certainly not spending the money on the roads.

"But they need more money and the easiest way to get it is to put it on petrol and tobacco. We're a sitting target and people are fed up with it."

Andrew Spence, co-ordinator of the People's Fuel Lobby, said they were planning to organise petrol protests in the near future and they believe they have strong support from motorists.

Sainsbury's and Tesco told the Daily Echo they would not be passing on the tax increase to customers at this current time.

But a spokesman for BP said: "The fuel duty has been imposed on us all and we will be passing it on to customers.

But because it comes at a time when petrol prices are lower, motorists should not see a lot of difference."

Motorists the Echo spoke to are also unhappy about the situation.

Simon Rules, 37, a sales director from Bournemouth, said: "It's really taking the mickey now. The cost of running and maintaining a car is soaring. It will get to the point when the car industry implodes because people just won't be able to afford them."

Julie Adrian, 21, a student from Winton, said: "I wouldn't mind the rise so much if public transport were a viable option. Buses and trains don't run on time and are expensive. As a student I already have to pick and choose where I go. I can't afford the petrol."

John Talbot, 56, a business manager from Bournemouth, said: "I knew it was coming. Did people really think petrol prices wouldn't rise? Businesses however will suffer in the long run, although I suppose the environment will be healthier if people drive less."

Archive Home