Caravan holidaymakers across Britain will be nervously watching the signs at petrol station forecourts this weekend, after a record surge in demand for fuel.
The threat of a possible tanker driver’s strike over Easter led the Government this week to call for motorists to top up their fuel. On Wednesday the Cabinet Officer Francis Maude exhorted drivers to keep “maybe a little bit [of petrol] in the garage as well in a jerrycan” – a statement which led to thousands of drivers heading to fuel stations across the country to collect fuel reserves.
His advice was subsequently been criticised by the AA and the Fire Brigades Union, both of whom pointed out the danger of storing fuel at home. Politicians also pointed out that a jerrycan has a capacity of 20 litres which exceeds the official limit for safely storing petrol at home.
Running dry
The Petrol Retailer’s Association reported a 170% increase in petrol sales on Thursday as panicked Britons queued at stations. Meanwhile sales of diesel surged by almost 80% in response to the news.
Across Britain there have been reports of petrol stations closing altogether as extraordinary demand led to forecourts drained of fuel. Filling stations in Weymouth in Dorset displayed “Closed” signs today while waiting for tankers to arrive, while in the East of England a number of garages have asked drivers for a minimum spend to discourage drivers looking for a quick top-up.
The national crisis has understandably led to caravanners expressing serious concerns over their holiday plans this weekend. With stocks of petrol low across Britain, some holidaymakers believe they will be unable to fill up with enough fuel to make it to their chosen campsite.
No round trip guarantees
One Caravan Times reader was due to set off for Scotland on Saturday – but with most of the petrol stations in his surrounding area displaying “empty” signs, his holiday plans are now in jeopardy.
Fred Scuttle reported that “with most of the filling stations round us already empty, we’re wondering what chance we have of getting fuel once we head off to the remote parts of the Highlands?”
Furthermore, he was more concerned about the possibility of further fuel shortages en route. “Normally we’d just fill up the car and once we get past Glasgow we’d fill it up again which would easily get us to our destination, but now there is real uncertainty about what we will find when we get up there – and will we be able to get enough fuel to actually get us where we want to go?”
Latest news reports indicate that union Unite has ruled out the threat of strikes by fuel tanker drivers over Easter, in the hope of working with conciliation service Acas to come to a solution. Meanwhile a 46-year old woman suffered serious burns yesterday after petrol ignited while she was decanting it in her kitchen.
