Fuel protest a 'real possibility'

Drivers could repeat protest scenes from September 2000

A new wave of protests could hit major routes in East Anglia if the government pushes ahead with its planned fuel rise in the autumn.

Fuel prices have increased by about 5p a litre already this year and the government is due to add another 1.92p a litre in duty this September.

Local firms have said militant drivers may go back on the roads in protest if the government forces through the rise.

The average cost of fuel has reached more than 80p a litre.

One city in the region even has the unenviable label of being the most expensive place in the country for fuel.

Filling stations in Milton Keynes have been charging about 82.9 a litre for unleaded and 83.9 for diesel.

The Road Haulage Association has written to the chancellor

Steve Williams, of the Road Haulage Association, said the group was putting pressure on the government to help the industry in the region, but said some drivers may take their own action.

"The recent fuel rises may be outside the government's control but the chancellor can help us by not bringing in the fuel duty rise that is expected on 1 September," he said.

"The association has written a letter to the chancellor urging him not to put prices up and asking if he will consider a rebate for commercial users of fuel as it's getting so expensive we can not compete with anyone else in Europe."

But he added some more militant lorry drivers and commercial fuel users may again take action in East Anglia and the region could see a repeat of the September 2000 protests.

"Unfortunately I think it is a real possibility if there is no response from the chancellor," he said.

Philip Dingle, of the Petrol Retailers Association, said the most recent rises in petrol were due to a number of factors, including a 13-year high for oil prices and increasing demand in America and China.